David Matthew Mitchell was born in New Zealand in 1895 and was educated at the Otago Boys' High School and at Otago Medical School. He qualified in 1920 and in 1921 entered general practice. In 1925 he came to Great Britain and obtained the FRCS Edinburgh. In 1929 he returned to England a second time and did a 12 month locum at Dudley Road, Birmingham, where he worked with Hamilton Bailey and gained much valuable experience. In 1931 he obtained the FRCS. He returned to New Zealand and commenced practice in Palmerston North. His capacity for work was enormous and his vast experience, sound judgement, surgical skill and courage characterised his career. He was a first class shot and keen angler. He was one of that great breed of general practitioners who formed the backbone of the profession in New Zealand in the first half of this century. They had four daughters and a son. He died on 28 December 1978, aged 83 years.