Name
Arthur Mitchell
1888
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
11/05/1915
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
16495
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BOULOGNE EASTERN CEMETERY
VIII. C. 20.
France
Headstone Inscription
OUR LOVED ONE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
UK & Other Memorials
Great Gaddesden Village Memorial,
St John the Baptist Church Roll of Honour, Great Gaddesden
Hemel Hempstead Town Memorial,
St Mary's Church Memorial, Hemel Hempstead,
We are not aware of any memorial in Gaddesden Row
Pre War
Arthur Mitchell was born in 1888 in Great Gaddesden, Herts, the son of Joseph Mitchell and Sarah (nee Gregory) and baptised there on 25 November 1888 at the church of St John the Baptist. He was one of 12 children, although three had died by the time of the 1911 Census. At the time of his birth the family lived at Wood Farm, situated between Piccotts End and Gaddesden Row.
On the 1891 and 1901 Censuses, the family were living at Great Gaddesden where his father was an agricultural labourer. He remained living with his family in 1911, when they were living in Gaddesden Row, Great Gaddesden and he was working as a Farm Labourer (Horseman).
His parents later lived at 1 Adey Fields, Hemel Hempstead.
Wartime Service
Arthur enlisted in Hertford on the outbreak of war and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment between 31 August and 2 September 1914. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion, which was a Reserve battalion providing defence to the East Coast at Felixstowe and also training of volunteers prior to them going to fight on the Western Front. On completion of his training, he was posted to the 1st Battalion and went to France on 1 April 1915. He was with the Battalion by 22 April when they were in position west of Zillebeke, Belgium, and saw action in the trenches to the left of Hill 60 at the beginning of May. On 5 May there was desperate fighting with gas, bombs, rifles and machine guns. Casualties were reported to be more than 290 men. Arthur was one of those who were gassed and he was evacuated to No. 13 General Hospital in Boulogne where he later died.
A letter received from Sister Holmes at No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne was reported in the local newspaper and it read: "I am writing to tell you of your son, who was wounded and brought down to the hospital. He was admitted to the hospital very severely wounded in the chest and also suffering from the effects of gas bombs. He was very ill when he came in, but there was a chance of recovery, so I waited until there should be some definite news to tell you. For two days he made some progress, but I am sorry to tell you last night he was taken very ill again and passed away about 2 a.m. this morning (Tuesday). I can assure you that all that was possible was done for him. I am very sorry to have this sad news for you. The actual cause of his death was bronchitis from the wound in the chest, but it was all complicated by the fact that the bullet had also injured his spine. He was partly paralysed."
Arthur died on 11 May 1915, aged 27 and is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £4 6s 6d. His mother received a pension of 4s 6d a week.
His mother, Mrs S Mitchell, 1 Adey Fields, Hemel Hempstead, Herts., ordered his headstone inscription: "OUR LOVED ONE GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN".
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer, Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild, www.dacorumheritage.org.uk, www.hemelatwar.org., www.befordshireregiment.org.uk., www.hemelheroes.com.
