Pte
William Henry Mitchell
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1883 |
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Place of birth: Lewisham, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Shop Assistant |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 71892 |
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Enlistment place: Grove Park, Kent, England, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), 11th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 18/10/1917 |
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Place of death: White Château, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Died of wounds (D.O.W.) |
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Age: 34 |
Cemetery
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Menin Road South Military Cemetery Plot: III Row: L Grave: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
William Henry Mitchell - a shop assistant from Amberley, Sussex - served in the 11th Battalion Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment), which was part of the 70th Brigade, of the 23rd Division.
On the 16th of October 1917, the Battalion relieved the 9th Yorkshire Regiment, in the frontline - linking In de Ster Cabaret and Judge Cross Roads - between the hamlets of Noordemdhoek and Zwaanhoek on the Broodseinde Ridge. The relief wasn’t completed until after midnight, because of heavy shelling. The shelling continued throughout the following day, with the support lines - at Jubilee Croft and Jolting Houses - taking the full brunt. The German artillery kept up shelling the 11th Sherwood Foresters durring the night and the following morning.
After two days under heavy fire, the 11th Sherwood Foresters were relieved. It had suffered heavy casualties. Private William Henry Mitchell, 34, was wounded, while holding the line. He was evacuated towards Ypres, but succumbed to his wounds on 18 October 1917. William was buried in Menin Road South Cemetery near White Château, which was used by field ambulances at the time.
On the 16th of October 1917, the Battalion relieved the 9th Yorkshire Regiment, in the frontline - linking In de Ster Cabaret and Judge Cross Roads - between the hamlets of Noordemdhoek and Zwaanhoek on the Broodseinde Ridge. The relief wasn’t completed until after midnight, because of heavy shelling. The shelling continued throughout the following day, with the support lines - at Jubilee Croft and Jolting Houses - taking the full brunt. The German artillery kept up shelling the 11th Sherwood Foresters durring the night and the following morning.
After two days under heavy fire, the 11th Sherwood Foresters were relieved. It had suffered heavy casualties. Private William Henry Mitchell, 34, was wounded, while holding the line. He was evacuated towards Ypres, but succumbed to his wounds on 18 October 1917. William was buried in Menin Road South Cemetery near White Château, which was used by field ambulances at the time.
Sources 4
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Ancestry https://ancestry.co.uk Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/96673/mitchell,-/ Sources used |
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The long long trail http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/ Sources used |
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War Diary http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |