In Ryton Cemetery is the Commonwealth War Grave of :-

F. Mitchinson
Deck Hand RNR 19441/DA
H.M.S. Actaeon
31st October 1918 Age 19

Ever Worthy of Remembrance

Colin Boyd has provided the following:

Fred was born on 14th June 1899 in Greenside, Ryton to John Mitchinson, a rolleyway man, and his wife Margaret.  In 1911 Fred was living with his parents, one sister and five brothers at 3, Emmaville, Ryton.

Fred enlisted in the Royal Navy on 7th November 1917 as a hostilities-only rating.  He was described as being 5 feet 6 inches tall with light brown hair, blue eyes and a fresh complexion.

On 18th January 1918 Fred transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve which coincided with the death of his father John at the age of 56. Fred  was posted to HMS Actaeon which was part of HMS Vernon, the Torpedo School. Unfortunately Fred was admitted to R.N. Hospital Chatham where he died on 31st October 1918 from the effects of pneumonia.

Fred Mitchinson is remembered at Ryton on R33.01, at Crawcrook on C97.05 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.