Name
Edgar James Mitchell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
3273
London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
8th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Edgar Mitchell was born in the autumn of 1874 at Brighton. He was one of six children (three sons and three daughters) born to Henry and Mary Mitchell. Henry worked as a Tool-maker.
By the time of the 1891 Census Edgar had left the family home and lived as a Boarder at 45 Surrey Street, Brighton, and was recorded working as a Tool Maker.
A Short Service Record shows that Edgar attested on 2nd January 1892, but absconded the next day, and was eventually taken into Police custody on 7th September 1894. He transferred to the Royal Sussex Regiment on 19th September 1894, and was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal on 10th November. However on 9th January 1897 he was discharged, having bought himself out of the Army.
By 1901 Edgar had married and was listed in the 1901 Census living at Kettering, and by 1911 the family had moved to High Street Abbots Langley, where Edgar worked as a Blacksmith/Wheelwright. Edgar and his wife Eliza had five children, three sons and two daughters, and two of his sons, Percy and Frederick also served in the Great War.
Edgar attested on 9th March 1915, taking an oath at Abbots Langley in front of the Recruiting Officer of the Post Office Rifles. The battalion was based in the village at the time. When he attested he indicated that he had Reserve Force experience with the Royal Artillery. He was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in April 1915, serving as a Farrier with the Post Office Rifles. On 20th May 1915 Edgar was promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal, but on 24th June he was reverted for misconduct.
In June 1915 a letter from Edgar was published in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine
“Farrier Mitchell of the Post Office Rifles writes: “ I think that this lot out here would make men of a few at home if they only had the pluck to join. If the young men of England could only see the ruins and the wicked way that everything is destroyed out here, they would hang their heads in shame to think that they hung back in the time of need, when every man that enlists means that the sooner the war will be over. I am not sorry in the least that I joined up again, as I can honestly say that every man that can ought to join to help dear old England.”
On 25th May 1916 Edgar was attached to the London Command Depot before being transferred to the Post Office Rifles on 30th May 1916.
On 8th July 1916 Edgar was discharged to the Territorial Force being “No longer physically fit for War Service”. He was described as being of “Good Character”. His discharge was noted in the Parish Magazine in August 1916, where he was erroneously described as being discharged wounded.
Edgar Mitchell survived the War, as did his sons Frederick and Percy.
Additional Information
Discharged No longer physically fit for War Service
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
