Coulson Norman MitchellVCMC (11 December 1889 – 17 November 1978) was a Canadian soldier. Mitchell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.[1]
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 8–9 October 1918, at Canal de L'Escaut, north-east of Cambrai.
He led a small party ahead of the first wave of infantry in order to examine the various bridges on the line of approach and, if possible, to prevent their demolition.
On reaching the canal he found the bridge already blown up. Under a heavy barrage he crossed to the next bridge, where he cut a number of "lead" wires. Then in total darkness, and unaware of the position or strength of the enemy at the bridgehead, he dashed across the main bridge over the canal. This bridge was found to be heavily charged for demolition, and whilst Capt. Mitchell, assisted by his N.C.O., was cutting the wires, the enemy attempted to rush the bridge in order to blow the charges, whereupon he at once dashed to the assistance of his sentry, who had been wounded, killed three of the enemy, captured 12, and maintained the bridgehead until reinforced.
Then under heavy fire he continued his task of cutting wires and removing charges, which he well knew might at any moment have been fired by the enemy.
It was entirely due to his valour and decisive action that this important bridge across the canal was saved from destruction.
After the war, Mitchell returned to Winnipeg to practice civil engineering. Early in World War II, he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers (RCE), at Camp Borden, Ont. In 1940, he went overseas and was put in charge of replacement training. Transferred back to Canada in 1943, he was attached to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa before joining the staff of the RCE Training Centre at Petawawa, Ont. In 1944, he took command of the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack, B.C. He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel.
Later life and memorialsedit
Coulson Norman Mitchell's headstone.
In 1946, Mitchell moved to Montreal where he joined an engineering firm in an executive capacity. In 1965, a Montreal branch of The Royal Canadian Legion was named after him. He died November 17, 1978, and was buried at the National Field of Honour in Pointe Claire, Quebec (Section M. Grave 3051).[4]
The Canadian Military Engineers chose to honour Mitchell by naming the main building of the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Gagetown, New Brunswick, after him. His Victoria Cross is on display at the museum there.
A street in the town of Mount Royal is named after him. Mitchell Avenue, Mount Royal, Quebec. Coulson Mitchell Lake, named after him is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Thompson. The name of the lake is being modified to Norman Mitchell Lake at the request of the family to reflect that Lieutenant-colonel Mitchell was commonly referred to by the name "Norman".[5]
coulson, norman, mitchell, december, 1889, november, 1978, canadian, soldier, mitchell, recipient, victoria, cross, highest, most, prestigious, award, gallantry, face, enemy, that, awarded, british, commonwealth, forces, born11, december, 1889winnipeg, manitob. Coulson Norman Mitchell VC MC 11 December 1889 17 November 1978 was a Canadian soldier Mitchell was a recipient of the Victoria Cross the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces 1 Coulson Norman MitchellBorn11 December 1889Winnipeg ManitobaDied17 November 1978 aged 88 Mount Royal QuebecBuriedNational Field of Honour Pointe Claire QuebecAllegiance CanadaService wbr branchCanadian Expeditionary ForceRankLieutenant colonelUnitRoyal Canadian EngineersBattles warsWorld War IWorld War IIAwardsVictoria CrossMilitary Cross Contents 1 World War I 1 1 Victoria Cross 2 World War II 3 Later life and memorials 4 Honours 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksWorld War I editBorn in Winnipeg on December 11 1889 Mitchell was a graduate of the University of Manitoba in civil engineering With the outbreak of the First World War he enlisted as a private in the Canadian Expeditionary Force in 1914 and went overseas with a railway construction unit He was commissioned in the field as a temporary lieutenant While serving with the 1st Tunnelling Company of Canadian Engineers he was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 2 Victoria Cross edit Mitchell was 28 years old and a captain in the 4th Engineer Battalion Canadian Engineers 2nd Canadian Division in the Canadian Expeditionary Force when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty on the night of 8 9 October 1918 at Canal de L Escaut north east of Cambrai He led a small party ahead of the first wave of infantry in order to examine the various bridges on the line of approach and if possible to prevent their demolition On reaching the canal he found the bridge already blown up Under a heavy barrage he crossed to the next bridge where he cut a number of lead wires Then in total darkness and unaware of the position or strength of the enemy at the bridgehead he dashed across the main bridge over the canal This bridge was found to be heavily charged for demolition and whilst Capt Mitchell assisted by his N C O was cutting the wires the enemy attempted to rush the bridge in order to blow the charges whereupon he at once dashed to the assistance of his sentry who had been wounded killed three of the enemy captured 12 and maintained the bridgehead until reinforced Then under heavy fire he continued his task of cutting wires and removing charges which he well knew might at any moment have been fired by the enemy It was entirely due to his valour and decisive action that this important bridge across the canal was saved from destruction 3 World War II editAfter the war Mitchell returned to Winnipeg to practice civil engineering Early in World War II he was assigned to the Royal Canadian Engineers RCE at Camp Borden Ont In 1940 he went overseas and was put in charge of replacement training Transferred back to Canada in 1943 he was attached to National Defence Headquarters in Ottawa before joining the staff of the RCE Training Centre at Petawawa Ont In 1944 he took command of the Royal Canadian School of Military Engineering in Chilliwack B C He later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel Later life and memorials edit nbsp Coulson Norman Mitchell s headstone In 1946 Mitchell moved to Montreal where he joined an engineering firm in an executive capacity In 1965 a Montreal branch of The Royal Canadian Legion was named after him He died November 17 1978 and was buried at the National Field of Honour in Pointe Claire Quebec Section M Grave 3051 4 The Canadian Military Engineers chose to honour Mitchell by naming the main building of the Canadian Forces School of Military Engineering at CFB Gagetown New Brunswick after him His Victoria Cross is on display at the museum there A street in the town of Mount Royal is named after him Mitchell Avenue Mount Royal Quebec Coulson Mitchell Lake named after him is located approximately 100 kilometres east of Thompson The name of the lake is being modified to Norman Mitchell Lake at the request of the family to reflect that Lieutenant colonel Mitchell was commonly referred to by the name Norman 5 Honours edit nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp Ribbon Description Notes nbsp Victoria Cross VC 31 January 1919 nbsp Military Cross MC 13 February 1917 nbsp 1914 15 Star nbsp British War Medal nbsp WWI Victory Medal nbsp Defence Medal nbsp Canadian Volunteer Service Medal With Overseas Clasp nbsp War Medal nbsp King George VI Coronation Medal 12 May 1937 Qualified as a Victoria Cross Recipient nbsp Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 2 June 1953 Qualified as a Victoria Cross Recipient nbsp Canadian Centennial Medal 1 July 1967 Qualified as a Victoria Cross Recipient nbsp Queen Elizabeth II Silver Jubilee Medal 6 February 1977 Both British and Canadian Versions of this Medal Qualified as a Victoria Cross Recipient 6 References edit Captain Coulson Norman Mitchell Retrieved 23 June 2023 No 29940 The London Gazette Supplement 13 January 1917 p 1546 No 31155 The London Gazette Supplement 28 January 1919 pp 1503 1504 Last Post Fund Home page Eng Archived from the original on 2008 12 21 Naming of Manitoba Lake cmea agmc ca Coulson Norman Mitchell s Medals Victoria Cross Online Retrieved 7 May 2022 Further reading editMonuments to Courage David Harvey 1999 The Register of the Victoria Cross This England 1997 The Sapper VCs Gerald Napier 1998 VCs of the First World War The Final Days 1918 Gerald Gliddon 2000 External links edit nbsp Biography portalCoulson Norman Mitchell s digitized service file Royal Engineers Museum Sappers VCs Legion Magazine article on Coulson Mitchell Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Coulson Norman Mitchell amp oldid 1211402726, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
