War veteran Jack Fraser Mitchell MM has officially been laid in a marked grave

A dedicated family have gone above and beyond to give their ancestor the proper send-off he deserved, after the war veteran was buried in an unmarked Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery grave.

Jack Fraser Mitchell MM was buried in an unmarked grave at the Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery until his grandson Ray Mitchell fought for his recognition. Picture. Morgan Burley

A DEDICATED family have paid respects to their veteran ancestor after he was wrongfully placed in an unmarked grave in Toowoomba.

Jack Fraser Mitchell MM, also known as Joseph Norman Greer, was born on October 27, 1879, and after serving in the Boer War and World War I, passed away on December 15 1933.

Jack was born in Geham, north of Toowoomba to Irish immigrants, and upon the outbreak of World War I, was working in Malaya when he was unable to return to Australia to enlist.

“A German ship was harassing the shipping industry in the Indian Ocean, so he couldn’t get back to Australia to enlist, so he went to England instead,” grandson Ray Mitchell said.

Jack Fraser Mitchell served in the Boer War and World War I.

Jack was enlisted into the 2nd King Edwards Horse Regiment, and later into the Machine Gun Corps 93rd Company, and the 838th Area Employment Company of Labour Corps.

During his service with the Machine Gun Corps, Jack was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field, and was wounded when he was exposed to gas on the battlefield, which resulted in deteriorating health.

Jack returned to Australia in 1919 with his new bride and they had four children.

“Unfortunately for him, because he served in the British Forces, he wasn’t entitled to the repatriation benefits,” Mr Mitchell said.

“He should have been looked after by the British Government.”

As a butcher by trade, Jack soon became too unwell to work and the family moved back to Toowoomba in 1933, where Jack soon passed away.

He was buried at Drayton and Toowoomba Cemetery in an unmarked grave.

Jack Fraser Mitchell MM was buried in an unmarked grave until his grandson fought for his recognition. Picture. Morgan Burley

After discovering more about his grandfather, having only seen a photo for most of his life, Mr Mitchell took it upon himself to right the wrong.

“I approached the Australian War Graves and initially they said no, he was in the British Forces so he wasn’t entitled to the commemoration,” he said.

“Over a period of about two years, I provided them more information about his service and eventually they did take another look at it which I’m grateful for.

“Because of his 2nd King Edward’s service they were prepared to mark his grave.”

Boer War and World War I veteran Jack Fraser Mitchell has been officially farewelled by grandchildren Bill Bowtell, Wendy Kennedy, Bill Bowtell, Sue Searle, Maree Kilner, Ray Mitchell and Paula Mitchell. Picture: Morgan Burley

In an emotional service, 31 direct descendants farewelled Jack over the weekend, his grave now recognised for his sacrifice to his nation.

“The more I’ve learnt about him and how he was treated, the more important it was to have his grave marked,” Mr Mitchell said.

“He was caught in a bureaucratic no man’s land.”

Jack’s grave has been marked and officially recognised with the Office of Australian War Graves.