8241 Alec Mitchell, XIV Pln, D Coy, 17th Btn. Manchester Regiment

Alec Mitchell’s parents lived at 4 Warrener Street, Sale – next to Number 6 as the home of my Grandfather, Arthur Bell.  Alison Mitchell is Alec’s great niece as the granddaughter of his brother.

Click on these imaged of Alec’s Platoon photo and roll.  It’s quite strange that relatives of two other members of XIV Platoon have made contact with the site.  George Royle‘s granddaughter Dianne Norwood has built her own site and records. Helen Wolfenden has also researched her great great uncle 8223 Private J W Lewis

Alec died of wounds in the action where Arthur Bell was wounded and evacuated home.  This is his profile on Anniversary 12th October 1916 – Flers Losses Alec MITCHELL 8241 – Born St Bride’s Manchester.  Residence Sale.  DoW. Age 25. “D” Coy. Son of Charles William and Kate Mitchell, of 4, Warrener St., Sale, Manchester. Native of Brooks’ Bar, Manchester.   DARTMOOR CEMETERY, BECORDEL-BECOURT. Prior to enlistment Alec had been a cotton cloth salesman. Enlisting in September 1914, he diseambarked with the Battalion in France on 08/11/1915. Following the assault on Guillemont, Alec was admitted to 14th Fd Ambulance on 30/07/1916.  Following transfer to a Casualty Clearing Station in Vecquemont, Alec must have adequately recovered to return to duty.

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Newly released records CWGC – Alec Mitchell  show his father Charles arranged an epitaph on his son’s grave “Grant him O Lord thine eternal peace.”

Frank Heath Mitchell and John Anderson Mitchell were two of Alec’s brothers.  More to follow, particularly on Frank, who is Alison’s grandad.  Manchester Regiment seems unlikely.  Frank was born in 1893 and became a Clerk for the Great Central Railway on 7th June 1909.  Railway records show he enlisted in military 20th January 1915 and he returned to his job after hostilities on 14th April 1919.

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