Name
Percy Frederick George Mitchell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
1st Army Cyclist Corps
3rd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Biography
Percy was born in 1896 at Brighton. He was one of five children (three sons and two daughters) born to Edgar and Eliza Mitchell. Percy’s brother Frederick also served in the Great War as did his father Edgar. At the time of the 1901 Census the family lived at 118 Montague Street, Kettering. By 1911 the family had moved to the High Street, Abbots Langley, where Edgar continued to work as a Blacksmith and Wheelwright. In 1911 Percy worked as a Blacksmith’s Apprentice.
Percy was first recorded in the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine Roll of Honour in September 1914, serving with the Bedfordshire Regiment. In the December 1914 Parish Magazine he was recorded serving with the 4th Bedfordshire’s but by January 1915 had transferred to the 1st Army Cyclist Corps.
On 23rd October 1915 the Hertfordshire Advertiser reported
“Cyclist Mitchell of 1st Army Cycling Corps, 3rd Battalion, is in a General Hospital in France. His leg is broken”.
On 6th November 1915 the Hertfordshire Advertiser recorded that
“Private Percy Mitchell, in hospital in England, has received severe shrapnel wounds, which necessitated removing one of his legs”.
The injury was recorded in the November 1915 edition of the Parish Magazine. Later in the month, on 27th November 1915, the Hertfordshire Advertiser noted that
“Percy Mitchell is now in Norwich Hospital, and being the youngest inmate of the hospital is known as ‘the Baby’”.
On 15th April 1916, the Hertfordshire Advertiser erroneously reported that
“Edgar Mitchell was recovering from the amputation of his right leg”.
At the time Edgar, Percy’s father was serving with the Royal Irish Fusiliers. The Advertiser recorded on 10th June 1916 that
“Private Percy Mitchell has returned home, having lost a leg, and has been welcomed by his many associations”.
Percy was discharged disabled, and this was recorded in the January 1917 edition of the Abbots Langley Parish Magazine.
Percy married Ruby Sybil Worboys at Ashwell, Hertfordshire on 24th December 1917.
Percy Mitchell survived the War as did his brother Frederick, and his father Edgar.
Additional Information
Formerly 4th Battalion Bedfordshire Regiment. Discharged Disabled
Acknowledgments
Roger Yapp - www.backtothefront.org
