(Contributed by his son, Dr Charles Mitchell)
Born: into an Aberdeenshire medical family, his father was the first orthopaedic surgeon in Aberdeen. Two previous generations on each side were country doctors in the county. At Aberdeen, he was awarded the Keith Gold Medal for surgery and was houseman to Sir James Learmonth and to (Sir) Stanley Davidson. He was Pipe-Major AUOTC and commissioned into 4th Battalion (TA) the Gordon Highlanders before transferring to the RAMC in 1939 as MO to the 51st HD Engineers (TA).
The unit crossed to France in 1940 and was fortunate to be evacuated from Cherbourg, whilst much of the division were forced to surrender. He saw service in North Africa and Italy including at Monte Cassino (mentioned in dispatches). He was awarded an immediate MC at San Appollinare in 1944 having evacuated over 900 wounded under continuous enemy fire in appalling weather. He later commanded BMH Trieste until 1946.
After the war, he trained in London and Edinburgh, becoming Senior RAMC specialist in Dermatology. He served in Hong Kong and Glasgow, before appointment as adviser in Dermatology to the War Office and Senior Specialist at QAMH, London. He retired in 1961 to become to become a Consultant in Carlisle, where he developed a highly respected department.
He was an excellent clinician with a tremendous empathy with his patients. The ‘dermatological eye’ enabled him to be a fine judge and breeder of livestock. He loved the countryside and its sports and will probably be the last consultant to conduct Saturday ward rounds in full hunting attire. He married firstly Josephine, nee White (2 sons, 1 daughter) and secondly Alison (nee Burnett).