Stella Maud Buckland, nee Mitchell. 1 Dec 1920 - 30 Nov 2018

Today I had to enter a fact into my family history database and it broke my heart. 

Roseann and Aunty Maud at her 95th birthday in 2015

You see today is supposed to be one of joy and celebration.  My beautiful Aunt was turning 98.  I had some precious time with her only 5 weeks ago and she was fantastic.  Her mind was sharp as she recalled many stories of her past.  Her smile was infectious and she was joking around as she usually does with her very great sense of humour. 

The thought did cross my mind at the time of “will I see this beautiful soul again”?  As we progress through life the older we get we do actually think of this more often.  Why is that?  Is it because we are vulnerable and know that we all have an expiry date?  Yes, I do believe that is the case!  We just don’t want to talk about the loss, we condition ourselves to work through life as it is thrown at us.  We cannot live in fear of the unknown and what is out of our control, we must live for the now and create the most precious memories we can.  But silently we cannot help but let these thoughts creep into our minds from time to time. 

9 years and 11 months ago I had to say goodbye to my Mother.  She was one 16 children and yes, I will admit I do cling to memories that are within my heart, it’s what keeps me going.  And here I am today on 1 Dec 2018 finding myself grieving for my Mothers sister and my beautiful Aunt and her family.   Last night the Angels called her home just hours short of her 98^th birthday. 

This brings back the emotions of my own loss and knowing what my siblings and I had to endure at the time and knowing that my cousins are now faced with this event and have to work through another chapter of their lives.  As I was growing up I never really stopped to think of how my parents coped with loss, they both seemed to have it all together.  I never knew my grandparents on my Mother side.  Grandma Mitchell died long before I was born and I was only 2 when Grandfather Mitchell died.  I was 15 and 25 when I lost my paternal grandparents, and yes it was sad at the time but I don’t believe I really understood what my father was going through at the time.  It was just before I was 25 that I had commenced my family history and I was starting to realise for the first time what this “life” journey was about!

Back to my lovely Aunt.  This lady was and will always be very close to my heart, as I recall the memories of my childhood and her visits to our home.  She would always, and I mean she never ever missed bring me a bag of lollies on each visit except for one occasion she gave me a dollar and said “go around the shops and buy some lollies to share”.  I would have been no more than 7 or 8 years old.  In those days, you could get 5 snakes or red frogs for 1 cent!!  I would return home with this enormous brown paper bag full of lollies and was happy.  Until the lolly police arrived and confiscated the bag!  Mum would then issue a couple of lollies a day to us kids!  There are many, many more memories that I hold dear but this one is my favourite.  You see, even as an adult I would visit her at her home in Toowoomba and when she knew we were coming she would always have a bag of lollies for me! 

My message and reminder to myself today is that Life is precious, we will never get this moment of time back…EVER.  Sit with your loved ones, listen to them, take the photos and videos, hold their hand and gently care for them, capture and cherish your time with each and every person who comes into your lives, friends included. 

May you rest in peace Stella Maud Buckland, nee Mitchell.  Until I see you again .. I hope they have lollies in heaven!! If not I'll settle for a huge hug 💝 Love you forever.

What’s in a name?

Roseann Letitia, I know I was named after my Great Grandmother  Roseann and my Mother, Letitia.

Roseann – it is of English origin first used in the 18^th Century and a combination of Rose and Ann – well that’s what Google says!

Letitia - it is a feminine name derived from the Latin term "Laetus" meaning "happy".  

Where it all started was with my Great Grandmother Roseann (Rosanna) who immigrated as a 2 year old in 1856 from Ireland to Australia on the Lady MacDonald with her parents, John and Ann MORRIS, sister Ellen 9, and brother Timothy 12.  She died on 22 March 1921 in Warwick at the age of 69 years and is buried in the Warwick Cemetery. 

Roseann MORRIS married Patrick MITCHELL on 18 Feb 1874 at St Marys Roman Catholic Church in Warwick and gave birth to 16 children.  They lived most of their lives in Emu Vale and Swan Fells area. 

Roseann was 65 when she lost her son Maurice Henry in the First World War in 1918 and is buried in the Villers-Bretonneux  Cemetery.  I along with my descendants have had the privilege to visit his grave and pay respect. To my knowledge all her children moved away from the Warwick district except for Owen, Timothy, Theresa.  Her eldest daughter moved to Rhode Island in America, her daughter Roseann moved to Victoria and Western Australia and later returned to Bendigo where her descendants still reside. 

Roseann MITCHELL nee MORRIS

Obituary of my Great Grandmother Roseann Mitchell
Source: Warwick Daily News (Qld. : 1919 -1954), Saturday 2 April 1921, page 4

My mother Letitia MITCHELL was born on 6 July 1926 and died on 26 Dec 2008.  

My Mother and I at Warwick c1964

My Mother Letitia 

My Mothers sister, Roseann MITCHELL was born on 22 July 1923 at Tannymorel to Owen Patrick MITCHELL and Adele Mary CARNEY.  Roseann died on 7 April 1924 at the age of 8 months 16 days. 

The name Roseann & Letitia has come down the generations many times. I am proud and thankful to share my title with these amazing women. 

Maurice Henry Mitchell - Military History

Military History of Maurice Henry Mitchell

Maurice Henry Mitchell was born on 4 Jan 1891 to Rosanna & Patrick Mitchell. At the time of his enlistment on 18 February 1916 he lived at Guy Street Warwick was single and of Roman Catholic belief  and he listed his Mother Rosanna as his next of kin. He was 24 years of age at the time of embarkation.  His rank was Driver and he was assigned to the Field Artillery Brigade 3, Reinforcement 19 Unit.  Regimental Number 26277.

His unit embarked at Sydney per HMAT A47 “Mashobra” on 14 September 1916

They landed at Plymouth on 2 November 1916.  Maurice was admitted for 5 days to the Devonport Military Hospital at Plymouth on the day he arrived to be treated for Mumps. 

Maurice was placed in training at Perham Downs, Salsbury in the UK on 7 Nov 1916.  Perham Downs was for receiving troops fit to be drafted to their units at the front.  Maurice was marched out to Fort Wallington on 20 Dec 1916.

On 5 April 1917 Maurice was marched out from Camp 18 Larkhill (Artillery Depot) and proceeded overseas to France arriving at the Australian General Base Depot at Etaples on 11 April 1917.   He was assigned to the 6^th Army Field Artillery Brigade.

Maurice was granted leave to UK on 27 July 1918 and re-joined his battalion on 13 August 1918. 

Sadly, he was wounded in action the very next day on 14 August 1918 and died from his injury, a shrapnel wound to the right side on 15 August 1918.  He was treated by 11^th Can Field Ambulance and placed in the 47th CCS (Casuality Clean-up Station) on 15 August 1918.   

This injury was inflicted in the battle of Amiens.  For further reading on the battle go to the following link.  https://www.awm.gov.au/visit/exhibitions/1918/battles/amiens

Maurice Henry was originally buried in the Dury Hospital Military Cemetery in France and his remains were exhumed and re-interred with every measure of care and reverence in Plot 6a, Row C, Grave 2 of Villers Bretonneux Military Cemetery.  The reason for the relocation of his remains was that visitors to the Dury Hospital Military Cemetery were compelled to pass through the grounds of a French Lunatic Asylum where the inmates were at work. Notwithstanding the local authorities sympathised with Australian representatives and the Commission decided to remove the grave to the nearest British Cemetery as the only practicable way of overcoming this difficulty. 

The minister officiating his service was Rev. C Bullock.





Notification of items retrieved from the field in a sealed container were: 

• 2 discs
• 1 damaged fountain pen
• 1 matchbox cover
• 1 locket
• 1 brooch
• 3 religious medallions
• 1 badge
• 1 coin
• 1 YMCA wallet
• photos

These items were despatched on 23 Sept 1918 to his next of kin.

Maurice’s sister Theresa Blades was notified of this by letter on 20 Feb 1928.  

Paying my respects in 2015 to my Great-Uncle who sacrificed everything in the Great War at Villers Bretonneux Military Cemetery, France. 

The Last Will & Testament of Maurice Henry Mitchell.

                            William Andrew Mitchell                                          Maurice Henry Mitchell

                                           1892 -1932                                                          1891-1918

Maurice, second on the left in the middle row. 

Warwick Queensland Australia where Maurice Henry Mitchell is honoured for his service in The Great War. 

Every year we would attend Anzac Day to pay tribute to my Mothers Uncle.