On Tower Hill Memorial, Trinity Square, London is the name of Mess Room Steward Robert James Mitchell serving on S.S. Ottokar with the Merchant Navy who died 11/12/1917.

He was the son of Robert and Jessie Mitchell, of 6, St. John’s Villas, East Boldon.

Christine Davison has submitted the following:-

Robert James Mitchell was the son of Robert Mitchell and Jessie Mitchell. 

Robert was born about 1901 in South Shields, and according to the 1911 census, the family were living in Collingwood Street, South Shields.

Robert served as a Mess Room Steward on board the “Ottokar”, which was originally a German ship but was taken over by the Royal Navy.

The Ottokar was last seen on 11th December 1917 when she left the Tyne, bound for London with a cargo of coal. It is believed that the ship was sunk by a German U-boat. Robert’s parents were living at 6 St. John’s Villas at the time of his death.

Robert James Mitchell is remembered at East Boldon on E46.01, at West Boldon on W99.02 and W99.06 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.