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My fathers name is Thomas Heald Mitchell, he was born at Chesterfield Rd,Bolsover on 13 June 1919.
His army number is 1873128.
His army history is as follows:

4.5.1936 — 16.2.1937 Royal Engineers
20.6.1938 — 8.2.1941 2nd Battalion
Grenadier Guards
9.2.1941 — 31.12.1943 56 Recce Corps
1.1.1944 — 13.6.44 Royal Armoured Corps

His active service history is as follows:

B.E.F 29.9.1939 — 27.2.1940

B.E.F 10.3.1940 — 1.6.1940

Nth Africa\Sicily\Italy 31.10.1942 — 9.3.1944

What follows next is a brief chronological account of my dad:

4 May 1936 — Dad joined Royal Engineers — 207 Party — Chatham — Brompton Barracks.

16 February 1937 — Dad discharged from Royal Engineers — underage.

20 June 1938 - Dad joined 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards — Caterham — Passed out at Wellington Barracks (Sgt Maggs Squad). His grandfather William Heald was also in the Grenadiers.

September 1939 — Dad was part of advance party into France approx 2 weeks before the rest of the Battalion. The SS Canterbury landed at Brest and he drove a staff car to Lille. Dad was in HQ Squadron.

27 February 1940 - Dad went on leave.

10 March 1940 - Dad returned to the BEF.

1 June 1940 - The 1st and 2nd Battalions Grenadier Guards embark off the beaches between La Panne and Bray Dunes; the 3rd at Dunkirk.
Dad evacuated from Dunkirk on HMS Codrington(D65), which also embarked General Montgomery and brought them back to Dover. Attacked by aircraft and shelled from shore batteries but it was not hit. Dad had his pockets and kit full of ammunition (he had picked a lot up), which was gratefully received by the crew of HMS Codrington.

9 February 1941 — Dad joined 56th Reconnaissance Corps.

27 October 1942 - Left Barri Camp Scotland for Nth Africa on the Cameronia.

13 November 1942 - Landed at Algiers Docks with HQ and B Squadrons of 56th Recce as part of Operation Torch. Spent their first night(s?) in the Botanical Gardens. Dad was in HQ Squadron.

November 16 1942— 78 div pushed out in Tunisia.

Dad crossed the Atlas Mountains ahead of Blade Force, 1st Army's spearhead which comprised elements of 6 Armoured Division and contained the tanks of 17/21 Lancers, a motorized company from 10 Rifle Brigade, a squadron of armoured cars from the Derbyshire Yeomanry, paratroopers from 1 Para, a battery of 25-pounders from 12 RHA (HAC), a battery of anti-tank guns from 72 A/Tk Regiment, a troop of Bofors AA guns and a troop of Sappers.

Dad was classified Driver/Mech and he drove a Portee towing a 2pdr anti tank gun as part of an anti tank crew.

29 November 1942 - Dad was wounded in Action at Medjez El Bab. Cpl’s Christian and Jopling were killed instantly with Tpr Abraham dying later. After the mine explosion their own ammunition exploded and he had to lie behind a few rocks trying to avoid exploding ammunition for an hour or more. There were 2 vehicles in convoy; Dad was in the 2nd vehicle.

30 November 1942 — 159th Field Ambulance.

1 December 1942- No.8 Casualty Clearing Station.

4 December 1942 - 220 Field Ambulance.

11 December 1942 — Dad discharged to Transit Camp Roue.

21 December 1942 - Dad transferred Field Ambulance.

7 March 1943- 19 Casualty Clearing Station - Nth Africa.

23 March 1943 - Transferred to Rest Camp (for approx 1 week) Nth Africa.

May 1943 - Dad went to Cape Bon Peninsular as part of reinforcements.

July 1943 — Dad went by LST to Catania Sicily as part of reinforcements.

September 1943 — Dad went to Italy.

12 December 1943 — Reported sick.

16 December 1943 - 99th General Hospital — Pneumonia — (ex Italian Navy Hospital, Taranto Italy) — Royal Marines commanding.

31 December 1943 - Evacuated by Ship to Catania Sicily

1 January 1944 - General Hospital (Sicily).

2 February 1944 - Transferred (by ship).

5 February 1944 - General Hospital — Algiers.

3 March 1944 - Hospital Ship to England.

9 March - Royal Infirmary (2 weeks).

22 March 1944 - County General Hospital (51 days).

13 June 1944 - Discharged from Royal Armoured Corps due to injuries recieved in North Africa.

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