Dr. Lachlan M. V. Mitchell - Biography-3
Dr. Mitchell: Major, Royal Army Medical Corps​
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Lachlan graduated from Edinburgh University in 1909 with a degree in Medicine. At the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Dr. Mitchell became an officer in the RAMC with the 1/1 Highland Mounted Brigade Field Ambulance. Shortly thereafter, Lachlan purchased a silver-case Swiss trench watch; he appears to be wearing it on his left wrist in the October1914 Officer's formal portrait. ​​​​​
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​Lachlan and his unit provided extensive medical services to the British Army in Gallipoli in 1915. His most remarkable role came during the December 1915 evacuation. Lachlan's medical team were responsible for comforting thousands of wounded soldiers so they could be safely evacuated from the beach. They were the last to leave, and Lachlan was “the last man to walk to the embarkation post in the whole division”.
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In 1916, the Brigade became part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, serving in the Suez and Palestine. Medical conditions were terrible between the desert heat and casualties from fighting Ottoman & German forces. ​
As Captain Mitchell wrote to his Mother from Palestine on December 1, 1917:
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“Have been dreadfully busy with wounded. We start at 6am and I am on till after twelve, and even at that we often miss meals. Many of the casualties we get are indescribably awful & they give one so much anxiety....".
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Lachlan was awarded the Order of the British Empire medal 1919 for his service to England.
Egyptian Expeditionary Force:
Palestine Campaign 1916-1918
(4 minute video)​
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
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On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
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Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
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The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
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The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
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Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
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On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
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The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
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In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.
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