Alan David Mitchell

Alan Mitchell was one of the first men from Manly to be killed in World War One.

His father, Mark Mitchell, was a prominent local solicitor. Alan was born in Glebe in 1892, and was a law student when he enlisted. The family lived in a mansion overlooking West Esplanade in Manly, named Leitelinna which still stands, now converted into units.

Mark Mitchell commissioned the architectural practice of Burcham Clamp to design a ‘beautiful and costly’ monument, which he donated to Manly. It was one of the first war memorials in Australia, and was unveiled on 14th October 1916. It is 11 metres high, trachyte, sculpted by Percy Calve. The inscription on the monument reads:

“To the memory of those gallant men of Manly who, in the Great War, so gloriously gave their lives for the sake of humanity and justice. This memorial was erected by the family of Alan David Mitchell, the first soldier of Manly to fall.”

Australian War Memorial records give his first name as ‘Allan’. He was number 1459 on the Australian Imperial Force Nominal Roll, Service Number: 1323, and served in the 1st Infantry Battalion. He was among the first to enlist and enlisted on 20 November 1914, aged 23; his religion was Jewish. He embarked from Sydney on the transport ship HMAT Seang Bee on 11 February 1915. He was wounded in the foot at Gallipoli on 29th April 1915, and died in hospital at Heliopolis on 5th May.

See also Curby, P, Seven Miles from Sydney, p.203-04. SMH 11 May 1915 carried an obituary photograph evidently taken from the print in Manly Council’s collection.