The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: power of social media (1)

 

The Woodside men and boys will be remembered: response to Pte. Harold Mitchell’s story

 

In response to the first Woodside soldier’s story Pte. Harold Mitchell, a wonderful link has been made. One of the members of the Remembrance 2001 tour responded to the post on Facebook and not only were precious connections re-made, but the story of this Woodside man was added to.

Ebony McConville (nee Boulton) was the baby of the inaugural tour group in 2001, and at the age of 16, she was the one who uncovered Mitchell’s story 20 years ago. Ebony recounted how she interviewed several family members who shared some Harold’s wartime experiences including the account of his fatal wounding and the Bible he was carrying at the time. The former Mount Barker High student also shared with me her reflections on the R2001 commemorative tour and how it has impacted on her perspective now as a working parent of two young girls. I know that the commentary on events like this tour often referred to as ‘life changing’ can be seen as cliched, however after discussing this with Ebony I have no doubt that this was very true in her case.

A second Woodside local who is a friend of my daughter-in-law, also contacted me, Kylie Grivell. Kylie confirmed the account and related to me, ‘…my mum is Helen Fechner and the story about Harold being shot through his Bible in his pocket, is a very well retold point in his life. We have a replica penny that his mother was given as a ‘mother’s sacrifice’ award.’

From these two valuable responses, I also learnt that Harold’s family members are buried in the Woodside cemetery and these headstones tell another sad side to the family’s history. Harold was one of three boys and his younger bother Alick died at the age of 13 on 18th July 1915 just 3 months into the Gallipoli campaign. Harold’s parents lost their young son and a year later Harold enlisted for war only to die in May of 1917. Lucia Mitchell’s life was again struck by tragedy as she was widowed in 1937 when her husband Robert died at the age of 69. She lived a long life until 1971 when at the age of 95, Lucia Agnes Mitchell died leaving her sole remaining son Robert and daughter in-law Emma Emily Mitchell.

Like so many families who lived during the early part of the 20^th century, war and grief shadowed their lives. As Ebony stated to me, the education she had from the Remembrance 2001 tour and project framed her perspective and values as she entered adult life and gained a life- long appreciation of how lucky and privileged the generations are who never had to live through those dark years of war and conflict. The wartime generations really knew what sacrifice and resilience meant: it was the embodiment of all they lived through. Let us who did not have to grow up during those bleak years, honour their memory by educating ourselves about our wartime past and never forgetting those who endured it.

The Mitchell family graves: Woodside cemetery, September 2021

              Harold Mitchell’s parents Robert and Lucia’s grave : Woodside cemetery September 2021

Harold Mitchell remembered at his younger brother’s grave: Woodside cemetery September 2021.