Colin Campbell Mitchell

Colin Campbell Mitchell (17 November 1925 – 20 July 1996) was a British Army lieutenant-colonel and politician. He became famous in July 1967 when he led the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in the British reoccupation of the Crater district of Aden. At that time, Aden was a British colony and the Crater district had briefly been taken over by nationalist insurgents. Mitchell became widely known as “Mad Mitch”. His reoccupation of the Crater became known as "the Last Battle of the British Empire". Although some observers questioned whether the Last Battle was ever worth fighting, the event marked the end of an era in British history and made Mitchell an iconic figure.

After leaving the British Army in 1968, Mitchell embarked on a career in politics. He was elected as a Member of the British Parliament in 1970 but stood down at the February 1974 general election. After subsequent involvement in a failed business venture he made his living until 1989 as a military consultant.

From 1989 until his death in 1996 he managed a charitable trust involved in the removal of land mines from former war zones.

Read more about Colin Campbell Mitchell:  Early Life and Career, Aden, Political Career, 1974 To 1989, The Halo Trust and Post 1989

Famous quotes containing the words campbell and/or mitchell:

    It may be strange—yet who would change
    Time’s course to slower speeding,
    When one by one our friends have gone
    And left our bosoms bleeding?
    —Thomas Campbell (1774–1844)

    My pet, the world can forgive practically anything except people who mind their own business.
    —Margaret Mitchell (1900–1949)