Name
John Frederick Mitchell
1879
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/10/1920
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Sapper
WR/205276
Royal Engineers
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BUSHEY (ST. JAMES) CHURCHYARD
I, in N.W. part.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Bushey memorials (*1)
Pre War
John Frederick Mitchell was born in Brighton in 1879, the son of William and Elizabeth Mitchell and was baptised on 26 October 1879 in St Bartholomew's Church, Brighton. He had two sisters, Elizabeth born 1861 but died 1886 and Ellen (Nelly) born 1881 died 1976.
On the 1881 Census the family were living at 24 London Street, Brighton where his father was a ground digger. His father died in 1889 and by 1891 John (then called Jack) was living with his widowed mother and sister Nelly as lodgers at the home of Charles and Eliza Lehman at 57 Richmond Buildings in Brighton. His mother was working as an ironer (washing) and John and his sister were at school. John and his mother remained at the same address in 1901 at which time he was working as a navvy. His sister had married in Ernest Penfold in 1900 and was living in Brighton.
By the 1911 Census John was living as a boarder at the home of Eliza Hawkins, a florist, living at 27 Lower Paddock Road, Watford with two more men, all working as labourers.
Wartime Service
He initially joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving as Private 31693, later transferring to the Royal Engineers under reg. no. 338722 which was changed to WR/205276.
John died in the UK on 27 October 1920 from disease (unknown), probably as result of his wartime service, and is buried in Bushey (St James) Churchyard, Herts.
Additional Information
Pension cards exist with Mrs Eliza Hawkins as dependant, living at 27 Lower Paddock Road, Watford, but a pension was refused.
*1 He is buried in the St James Churchyard, Bushey.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild
