On the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France, is the name of 132509 Sapper Robert Mitchell serving with the 160th Tunnelling Company Royal Engineers who died 16/09/1916.
He was the son of William Mitchell, of 5, Rose Street, Teams, Gateshead, and the late Frances Mitchell and the husband of Laura Mitchell, of 8, Thomas Street, Felling, Gateshead.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Mitchell who was the son of William and Frances Mitchell, was born at Bradfield near Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1871 and the husband of Laura native of Acle on the Norfolk Broads born 1871. His wife gave birth to 8 children of whom only 6 survived 2 sons and 4 daughters. in 1901 they were living at Lucas Brick Yard, Whickham, where Robert was a groom/horse keeper at the brick yard but by the time they had moved to 8, Thomas Street, Felling, in 1911 he was employed as a miner.
After the declaration of war with Germany on August 4th 1914 during 1915 the British tunnelling companies were formed in response to the fact that the British Expeditionary Force at the Western Front had discovered the Germans were mining to a planned system, something that the British had failed to do. Kitchener and the French field marshals investigated the possibility and suitability of forming British mining units and the idea was approved and the scheme initiated February 19th 1915. To make this work quicker and safer the British Army enlisted experienced coal miners, many of whom were outside the normal recruitment age policy.
Robert Mitchell passed his medical examination, at Felling, Gateshead, September 25th 1915, at the age of 44 years, enlisting October 5th 1915 as Sapper 132509 Royal Engineers at Westminster, Middlesex and was assigned as a tunneller earning 2 pounds 2 shilling a day. October 23rd 1915 he was drafted as part of the British Expeditionary Force to France joining the 252nd Tunnelling Company which was employed in the Hebuterne-Beaumont-Hamel sector of the battlefield. Robert was admitted to hospital having been gassed but did return to the 252nd Company at the 4th General Base Depot after receiving treatment at Rouen. He was discharged under Class W, services deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment, he was however liable to recall at any time in the future whilst hostilities lasted. Sapper Mitchell was indeed recalled, September 12th 1916 and assigned to the 180th Tunnelling Company on the Somme battlefield.
Sapper 132509 Robert Mitchell Royal Engineers was killed in action 4 days later. His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 72,000 names inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval, France commemorating servicemen from the Great Britain and South Africa who died on the Somme 1915 to 1918 and have no known grave. He was 45 years old.
His widow Laura received all monies due to him, a pension for herself and their two youngest children in the sum of 26 shillings 6 pence a week as of April 2nd 1917 and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 8, Thomas Street, Felling, Gateshead, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest in Peace.
His death was reported in Heslop’s Local Advertiser 13/10/1916.
The following has been reported by George Yorston:
“We only know about Robert Mitchell from tracing the Family tree, My wife knew nothing of him until we discovered all the census records.
Her Family never knew about him until we told them. I found a Photo online of him, but I am awaiting permission to copy and use it.
Robert was born 1871 in Bradfield Yorkshire, his Father and Mother came from different parts of England, they moved around like most people did of that era for work. Robert worked as a miner then enlisted in 1915, went to France and was killed in action 9th September 1916. He was Gassed. We have his service records.
They settled in Felling Gateshead and Robert married Laura Griffin. One of their Daughters is my wife’s Nanna Edith Lavinia Mitchell.
This is about all we know.”
Robert Mitchell is remembered at Felling on F32.07 and at Heworth on H92.03, H92.04 and H92.07
