Name
Alan Herbert Mitcham
Conflict
Second World War
Date of Death / Age
21/07/1942
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Serjeant
5953269
Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RANCHI WAR CEMETERY
5. B. 3.
India
Headstone Inscription
''AND BEING NOT WEAK IN FAITH, HE CONSIDERED NOT HIS OWN BODY NOW DEAD''
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, Hitchin Roll of Honour 1939 – 1945 (Book) St Mary’s Church, Hitchin
Biography
He was born in Exeter, but he was educated at Wilshere Dacre and St. Michael's Schools in Hitchin. Later he worked for the Herts and Beds Express in the composing room. He was a member of the 4th Hitchin Scout Troop, a Rover Scout and in the St. John's Ambulance Brigade. He was resident in Hertfordshire when he joined the Services. He was given the Number 5953269 and served for two years in the Middle East and was wounded at Tobruk in November 1941. He was in the 1st Battalion of the Regiment which was part of the 14th Infantry Brigade of the 70th Infantry Division. The Battalion had replaced the Australians by sea during the siege of Tobruk. He made a good recovery returning to the Regiment in March 1942. The Battalion left the Middle East by sea for India on the 28th February 1942 arriving on the 9th March 1942.
A few months later, after a short illness, he died and was buried in Plot 5, Row B, Grave 3 in Ranchi War Cemetery, India.
His parents were William and Kathleen Mitcham of ‘Cyres’, Lancaster Ave, Hitchin and his fiancée was Miss Mary Marsom.
Acknowledgments
David C Baines – ‘Hitchin’s Century of Sacrifice’, Paul Johnson - local historian, ‘Crucible of War 2 - Auckinleck’s Command’ by B. Pitt, Herts & Beds Express dated l 5th August 1942
