on the West Coast of the South Island, and worked on the gold fields there. He later purchased land near Ross and took up farming. He drowned on 16 March 1894 when attempting to cross the Mikonui River, which was in flood at the time. His body was recovered three days later. He was survived by his wife, Agnes, whom he married in 1870, and ten children. He is buried in Ross Cemetery. The medal Following his VC investiture, Mitchell's medal was placed in storage along with other possessions in his sea chest, which he had left with the proprietors of the boarding house that he stayed in while in Sydney. He intended to have his belongings forwarded to him once he had settled in New Zealand but lost contact with the boarding house proprietors. His medal remained missing until around 1912, when it was purchased at an auction in London. His family attempted to negotiate with the owner of the medal for the return of the medal but it took the intervention of the Duke of York, before they were successful and it was purchased in 1928. His medal is now displayed in the Hokitika Museum in Hokitika. Gallery Notes References External links Website on Mitchell's life and the VC action 1841 births 1894 deaths Royal Navy sailors Royal Navy personnel of the New Zealand Wars New Zealand Wars recipients of the Victoria Cross British recipients of the Victoria Cross Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross People from Aspley Guise Deaths by drowning in New Zealand Accidental deaths in New Zealand English emigrants to New Zealand 19th-century Royal Navy personnel Military personnel from Bedfordshire