Canada. A First War Mitchell Father & Son Group, Son KIA at Thiepval Ridge

Canada; Private Thomas Mitchell (Father): British War Medal (133190 PTE. T. MITCHELL. 73-CAN. INF.); Victory Medal (133190 PTE. T. MITCHELL. 73-CAN. INF.); and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (PTE. T. MITCHELL 5 th REGT. ROYAL HIGHLANDERS.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, dark patinas on the silver medals, edge nicks on the First War pair, light contact. Accompanied by a Miniature Group of Same: British War Medal (silver, 18 mm); Victory Medal (bronze, 18 mm); and Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal, George V (silver, 17.7 mm), mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, original ribbons, dark patinas on the silver medals; his Silver War Badge (silver, number impressed "C20106" on the reverse, 32.8 mm, horizontal pinback); a The Veterans Club Badge (bronze with red and blue enamels, maker marked "WELLINGS MFG. CO. TORONTO" on the reverse, 24.8 mm (w) x 18.5 mm (h), button hole attachment); a 65th Regiment A.A. Games Time Keeper's Ribbon (red and black inks screen-printed on white satin, 55 mm (w) x 140 mm (h)); along with assorted research papers. Private Thomas Mitchell Jr. (Son): 1914-15 Star (25917 Cpl T. MITCHELL. 14/CAN:INF:); British War Medal (25917 SJT. T. MITCHELL. 14-CAN.INF.); and Victory Medal (25917 SJT. T. MITCHELL. 14-CAN.INF.). Naming is officially impressed. Mounted to a suspension with swing bar pinback, replacement ribbons, spotting on the Star and VM. Accompanied by twelve Caledonian Society of Montreal Prize Medals (eleven are sterling silver, engraved "1903 2nd PRIZE HIGHLAND FLING Boys & Girls under 16 yrs", "1903 3rd PRIZE / SAILORS HORNPIPE in Costume under 16 yrs", "1903 3rd PRIZE SCOTCH REEL in Highland Costume under 16 yrs", "1903 3rd PRIZE SHEAN TREWS Boys & Girls under 16 yrs", "1904 GHILLIE CALLUM 2nd PRIZE", "1904 HIGHLAND FLING 2nd PRIZE", "1904 SAILOR'S HORNPIPE 2nd PRIZE", "1904 SCOTCH REEL 3rd PRIZE", "1905 JUBILEE YEAR", "1906 GHILLIE CALLUM UNDER 16 YEARS 2nd PRIZE" and "1906 HIGHLAND FLING UNDER 16 YEARS 2nd PRIZE", in various sizes with their original ribbons and hangers; one is bronze, engraved "SHEAN TREWS UNDER 16 YEARS 3rd PRIZE 1906", 26.5 mm (w) x 29.5 mm (h), original ribbons with hangers); a Victoria Rifles of Canada Prize Medal 1902 (bronze with red, white, orange and green enamels, engraved "MASTER THOMAS MITCHELL 30. JAN. 1902", 23.5 mm (w) x 30 mm (h), original ribbon suspended from a hanger); an I.M.U. Prize Medal 1902 (sterling silver, 34.5 mm (w) x 39 mm (h), engraved "19/I.M.U./02" on the hanger, marked "STERLING" on the reverse of the hanger); a Photograph taken in 1902 of Thomas Mitchell Jr. in Highland Dress at the age of 10 (black and white, faded to a sepia-toned look, matte finish, 105 mm (w) x 157 mm (h), board-mounted); along with assorted research papers.

 

Footnote: Thomas Mitchell Sr. was born on July 10, 1872 in Aberdeen, Scotland. Private Mitchell was with the 5th Regiment, Royal Highlanders of Canada (The Black Watch) when he was awarded the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal by G.O. 189 in 1914. He signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (133190) with the 73rd Infantry Battalion "Royal Highlanders of Canada", assuming the role of Piper, on November 18, 1915 in Montreal, at the age of 43, naming his next-of-kin as his wife, Ellen Mitchell of Montreal, stating that he had twenty-three years' previous service with the 5th Regiment, Royal Highlanders of Canada, that he was Married, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Blacksmith. The doctor noted during his medical examination that Mitchell had tattoos on both forearms: the left one with a sailor, flag and Scottish thistle, the right one with a sailor and a girl in tights. The 73rd Infantry Battalion was raised in Western Quebec and Eastern Ontario with mobilization headquarters at Montreal, Quebec under the authority of G.O. 103A, August 15, 1915. The Battalion sailed from Halifax, Nova Scotia, on March 31, 1916 aboard the RMS Adriatic, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel P. Davidson with a strength of 36 officers and 1,033 other ranks, arriving in Liverpool, England on April 9th. Three months after arriving in England, Private Mitchell was at Bramshott when he received his orders to proceed overseas for service in the French theatre on August 12, 1916. Three months after arriving in France, he was at camp near Poziers in the Somme on November 18, 1916, when he had an accident, burning his left hand while helping the cook. He was initially treated at No. 30 Ambulance Train, then admitted to No. 2 Australian General Hospital at Wimereux on November 21, 1916, where he would be treated for the next eight days. He was transferred and admitted to No. 1 Convalescent Depot at Boulogne on November 29th and discharged to base details on the 30th. He was stationed at the Canadian Base Depot at LeHavre when misfortune would strike again. At about noon on December 22, 1916, Piper Mitchell was injured, suffering a transverse fracture of the left fibula (calf bone), about three inches above the ankle. He described the incident: "I was in the act of entering my tent when I slipped and fell over one of the guy-ropes (of my tent), thereby sustaining injury as indicated." He was admitted to No. 7 Canadian Stationary Hospital at LeHavre on December 23rd, where it was noted that he had "DAH" (Disordered Action of the Heart, otherwise known as Soldier's Heart or Effort Syndrome, and was thought to result from a combination of over exertion, mental stress and fatigue), in addition to his fractured fibula. After nine days, he was invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship Dunluce Castle on January 1, 1917, where he was taken on strength at the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre at Hastings and admitted to Keighley War Hospital at Keighley, Yorkshire on January 2nd. After ten weeks at Keighley, he was posted to the 1st Quebec Regimental Depot at Shoreham and admitted to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Monks Horton, Kent on March 9, 1917, where he would be treated for another four weeks, before being discharged on April 6th. He was taken on strength at the Canadian Convalescent Depot at Buxton on June 2, 1917 for return to Canada, embarking for home from Liverpool on June 22nd. After arrival in Canada, he was posted to the Military Hospitals Commission Command at Montreal on July 18, 1917, then admitted to Grey Nuns Convalescent Hospital on July 26th, placed under their care for one month, the last three weeks as an outpatient, until August 24th, when he was posted to "A" Unit, Military Hospitals Commission Command. After discharge from "A" Unit on September 8th, 133190 Private (Piper) Thomas Mitchell was discharged as "Medically Unfit" at "A" Unit, Military Hospitals Commission Command in Montreal on September 9th. For his First World War service, he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He died on September 18, 1943, at the age of 71. 

 

 

Thomas Mitchell Jr. was born on February 2, 1892 in Montreal, Quebec, the son of Thomas Mitchell and Ellen Mitchell. As a youth, he was awarded numerous Prize Medals for Highland Dance, many of which were from the Caledonian Society of Montreal. He was a resident of Montreal when he signed his Attestation Paper as a Private (25917) with the 14th Infantry Battalion "Royal Montreal Regiment", on September 21, 1914 at Valcartier Camp, at the age of 22, naming his next-of-kin as his father, Thomas Mitchell of Montreal, stating that he had five years' previous service with the 3rd Battalion, Victoria Rifles of Canada, that he was Single, that his religion was Presbyterian and that his trade was that of Telephone Engineer (also acknowledged as an Electrician). The 14th Infantry Battalion was raised from the Royal Montreal Regiment and mobilized at Camp Valcartier, Quebec under the authority of P.C.O. 2067, August 6, 1914. The Battalion sailed October 3, 1914 from Halifax, Nova Scotia aboard the RMS Andania, with a strength of 46 officers and 1,097 other ranks under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel F.J. Meighen, arriving in England shortly thereafter. He was promoted to Sergeant on March 30, 1915. Private Mitchell Jr. was admitted to Royal Victoria Hospital at Netley, Hampshire with a sprained knee on April 17, 1915 but was soon released from hospitalization, declared "Fit" and received his orders to proceed overseas for service in the French theatre. He was in action at Ypres on April 24, 1915 when he received a gunshot (shrapnel) wound to his right forearm near the wrist. Although injured and being the only NCO officer left in the unit after action that day, he remained on duty. The following day, April 25th, he was involved in a "gas attack" and "got a bad dose of gas". He was initially admitted to No. 4 Stationary Hospital on April 26th, then transferred and admitted to No. 10 Stationary Hospital at St. Omer the same day. He was invalided to England, where he was admitted to No. 3 Northern General Hospital at Sheffield on May 2, 1915. The bullet wound in his right wrist had caused an "aneurysm of the anterior interrosseous artery". It was noted by the doctor at the hospital in Sheffield that immediately afterward and up until his current examination, that Mitchell's "fingers clenched and since that he has been unable to extend the fingers".

 

After five weeks hospitalization at Sheffield, he was discharged to furlough on June 8th. Private Mitchell Jr. was admitted to Moore Barracks Canadian Hospital at Shorncillfe on August 27, 1915, where he was diagnosed with "Turbinate Hypertrophy" (a nasal obstruction), where a corrective procedure was performed before he was discharged on the 29th. He was re-examined at Shorncliffe on September 18, 1915, in regards to the "weakness of (the) right arm following a bullet wound in (the) right forearm", the doctor noting that he was experiencing "general weakness" and recommending him for "Home Service" for one month, which was approved on the 20th. On November 23, 1915, he was approved for Base Duty for one month before returning to Full Duty. Mitchell Jr. was admitted to 2nd General Hospital at London on December 29, 1915 and remained there for additional treatment, until January 24, 1916. He was posted to the 23rd Reserve Battalion on March 20, 1916 and attended a course at the Garrison in Shorncliffe from May 1 to 23, 1916. He was admitted to Connaught Hospital at Aldershot on June 14, 1916, diagnosed "N.Y.D."(Not Yet Determined) but no follow up information was recorded. He went overseas with the 14th Infantry Battalion for a second time, on August 17, 1916, where he was taken on strength at the Canadian Base Depot in France on August 18th. He was briefly posted to an Engineering Battalion on August 25th, joining them on the 27th, then returned to the 14th Infantry Battalion on September 13th. Thirteen days later, 25917 Sergeant Thomas Mitchell, 14th Infantry Battalion was in action at the Battle of Thiepval Ridge in the Somme, on September 26, 1916, the first large offensive mounted by the Reserve Army during the Battle of the Somme on the Western Front. He was initially reported as "wounded", then "missing" and finally declared "Killed in Action". He is remembered with honour on the Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. At the base of the memorial, these words appear in French and in English: "TO THE VALOUR OF THEIR COUNTRYMEN IN THE GREAT WAR AND IN MEMORY OF THEIR SIXTY THOUSAND DEAD THIS MONUMENT IS RAISED BY THE PEOPLE OF CANADA." Inscribed on the ramparts of the Vimy Memorial are the names of over 11,000 Canadian soldiers who were posted as "'missing, presumed dead" in France. He is commemorated on page 136 of the First World War Book of Remembrance. For his First World War service, he was posthumously awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. His father, Thomas Mitchell received his son's three medals, along with his Memorial Plaque and Scroll. His mother, Ellen Mitchell received her son's Memorial Cross.