Private Thomas Arnold Mitchell

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Private. 1/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Service number 24521.

Early life:

Thomas was born in Keighley on 3rd January 1887 and registered in Keighley. He was baptised at St. Anne's Roman Catholic Church on North Street on 6th March and this record gives the names of both parents as Jonas and Sarah Anna Mitchell and they were living at 160, Oakworth Road.
It appears that whilst they were living in Keighley, Jonas and Sarah appear to have both died, leaving Mary Elizabeth and Thomas Arnold as orphans.
There are three entries in the Keighley electoral roll for Jonas Mitchell, all for 160 Oakworth Road (also known as 160, Holycroft) They are for 1889, 1890 and 1891 suggesting that he either left town or died around 1890 or shortly after, but before the 1891 census took place.

Thomas had a sister, Mary Elizabeth, who was born in Manchester (on 28th October 1884) and she was adopted by Spencer and Mary Reeday in Keighley.
In the 1891 census, the Reeday family are living at 168, Oakworth Road and Mary Elizabeth is aged seven and recorded as their adopted daughter and Spencer is a coachman in domestic service. Also living with them is their own son John Spencer Reeday aged 13 and Mary Ann Reeday, their cousin aged 34.

We next see Thomas in 1901, when he is aged 14 and living at The Catholic Boys Home on Marwood Street in Manchester. This is right next to the district of Salford. He is boarding along with 47 other boys ranging from the youngest at 13 up to the eldest at 22 years of age. Thomas is employed as an errand boy along with a number of the other younger boys.

His sister Mary Elizabeth is living with the Reeday family at 35, Russell Street in Keighley. She is aged 16 and described as their adopted daughter and employed as a worsted spinner. Also living here are Spencer Reeday aged 47 and still a coachman; Mary is 53 and on home duties; John is 23 and a textile machine fitter; Mary A. Preston is a boarder, aged 44 years and employed as a worsted reeler.

In the 1911 census Thomas appears to be living a few streets away from the Children's Home at 31, Devonshire Street in Broughton, which is a boarding house owned by Margaret Mills, a 64 year old widow. Thomas is 24 and employed as a messenger for a chemist. At that time he was the only person boarding there.

In 1911 his sister Mary Elizabeth is still living with Spencer and Mary Reeday at 35, Russell Street in Keighley. She is aged 26 and employed as a reeler in a worsted mill. Spencer is aged 59 and a caretaker. Mary Ann Preston is a boarder, aged 44 years and employed as a reeler in a worsted mill.

Mary's adoptive father Spencer Reeday died on 23rd September 1917 aged about 65. His death was recorded in Keighley in the third quarter of the year. He was buried in Utley Cemetery.
His probate record shows he left £927 13s 7d to his wife Mary.

War service:

There are no Army service records for Thomas Arnold Mitchell.
We know from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, that he was born in Keighley and that his sister was Miss M.E. Mitchell of 35, Russell Street in Keighley, which give us the connection to his civilian records and his family, and that he was from Keighley.
This is supported by the 'Soldiers Died in the Great War record which reiterates that he was born in Keighley and also that he enlisted in Salford. Also, he was serving with the 1/7th Lancashire Fusiliers and he died of wounds on 29th September 1918. His service number was 24521.
The medal roll indicates that he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal and had no Star, so he did not served overseas until after the end of 1915. It also shows that he began his overseas service with the 10th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers before transferring to the 2/5th Battalion, then ending up with the 1/7th Battalion, but there is no further information of the dates this happened.

A calculation based on the war gratuity amount in the Soldier's Effects record allows us to estimate that he enlisted at Salford sometime around May 1916, so we think we was a 'Derby Scheme' man and was called up for service around that time and he may have actuaally attested for service in late 1915. This would have been followed by a few months training and depending on whether he completed his infantry training in the UK or overseas at one of the Base Depots, he would have been in France in late summer. Indeed the 10th Battalion war diary states that the Battalion had a number of drafts of men in September 1916, so perhaps Thomas was with them.
Its not possible to prove this either way but it follows that something along these lines would have taken place and Thomas would have experienced life in and out of the trenches for a year of two before ending up with the 1/7th Battalion by the end of September 1918 when he died.

The war diary for the 1/7th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers gives us an idea of what they were doing on the final days leading up to Thomas's death. They were in fields located to the East of a village called TRESCAULT in France. Some of the trench names may be seen on this trench map from the National Library of Scotland:

A website screen grab of a trench map shoing lines of British trench positions in red and German trenches in blue, from 1918

Trench map showing where the Lancashire Fusiliers were located in 1918

WO 95/2655/1 - War diary entry:

26th September 1918:
The Battalion embussed at LE BUCQUIERE and debussed at RUGAULCOURT and marched into assembly positions through HAVRINCOURT WOOD, A Company in BONES ALLEY, B Company in SHERWOOD AVENUE and trench running to DERBY RESERVE, C Company in SNAP TRENCH, D Company in SHERWOOD AVENUE, 2nd Lieutenant J. M. Climie proceeded on leave to UK.
27th Sept. 8.02 am:
A Company attacked and took the first objective (Q.5.d.65.27 to Q.11.D9.0.5.5.) and at 8.38 am B Company leap-frogging them advanced to second objective Q.6.c.9.0.2.7. to Q.12.b.3.0.0.0.) but were held up at Q.12.a.8.5. by machine guns firing from their right flank from either in or near BEAUCAMP about Q.12.a.9.4. which had been reported cleared.
9.30 am:
The position was practically the same C Company having advanced to help B Company on the right, D Company being just in front of 1st Objective, waiting till they advanced.
9.48 am:
B Company reported they were at Q.12.a.6.5.5.5. and enemy were counter attacking at Q.12.a.9.3. Enemy attempted to bomb up BEAUCAMP SUPPORT but were driven off.
11.40 am - 11.55 am:
C Company had to withdraw to first objective owing to our barrage of 4/5 Howitzers which was firing on machine gun nests. A tank was seen working round North of BEAUCAMP but was put out of action.
1.20 pm:
C Company reported they had reached Q.12.a.5.5.0.0. but were held up by machine gun fire from near tank at Q.12.a.7.2. and they were attempting to out flank this obstacle, this was not successful.
3.00 pm:
Enemy were seen in BEAUCHAMP trying to work round our right flank but were stopped by C Company. A scheme was then planned in conjunction with the 5th Division to work round the North end of BEAUCAMP to attack the machine gun nests in flank. Orders were received however that a general attack (5th Division, 7th and 8th Lancashire Fusiliers) with a barrage would take place at 6.30 pm, this was put off till the morning of the 28th. Total number of prisoners captured, 120.
Casualties, Lieutenant A.S. Tennant, killed; Major R.H. Cade & Captain H.L.Murgatroyd died of wounds. Lieutenant S. Austin, 2nd Lieutenant H.J.Downham, 2nd Lieutenant W. Steele, 2nd Lieutenant J.K. Allison, 2nd Lieutenant H.J.Warren and 2nd Lieutenant F.L. Walford, wounded.
28th Sept:
D Company attacked the BROWN LINE (2nd objective) under a rolling barrage and captured over 200 prisoners. Lieutenant S. Austin and 2nd Lieutenant H.J. Downham died of wounds.
29th Sept:
The 1st New Zealand Brigade went through the BROWN LINE and the Battalion came back into reserve in HAVRINCOURT WOOD (Q2). Captain P.A. Shelmerdine rejoined from 125th Brigade, 2nd Lieutenant W. Steele died of wounds.
30th All Companies reorganising and cleaning up. 2nd Lieutenant W. G. Brown rejoined from leave, strength of the Battalion 36 officers and 660 other ranks.

We suspect that Thomas was wounded in the attacks detailed above, possibly on 28th September and was evacuated for medical treatment where he died of his wounds the next day. Grevillers British Cemetery in which he was buried, is 15 miles due West of where they were fighting and at that time was being serviced by the 34th, 49th and 56th Casualty Clearing Stations. The 34th was the 1/1st West Lancashire) (Territorial Force) so it's likely that the 1/7th Lancashire Fusiliers were allocated to this CCS.

His sister Mary Elizabeth (Lizzie) was his next of kin and may have been informed of his death by letter from his commanding officer, or a senior nurse or even a chaplain at the casualty clearing station. She and her adoptive mother Mrs. Reeday, informed the Keighley News about his death and a note appeared in the 'Births Marriages and Deaths' section of the newspaper. It did not appear in the 'War Casualties column:'

The Keighley News. Saturday. 12th October 1918:

MITCHELL - Private Thomas Arnold, Lancashire Fusiliers, killed in action in France 29th September, 1918, of Manchester, formerly of Keighley. He died for his country - From his sister Lizzie and Mrs. Reeday.

Post war:

Thomas is remembered on his grave at Grevilliérs Military Cemetery. He is not remembered on any memorial in Keighley, but he may be named on a memorial in Salford or nearby.

We are not sure who Thomas had nominated as his next of kin and normally this would be stated in his Army service records, but these records no longer exist.
His 'soldiers effects' record shows that he had made his will out to a lady called Frances E. Coles as she was his legatee and received his remaining Army pay of £5 4s and the war gratuity of £10 10s on 15th April 1919. She may also have received his British War Medal and Victory Medal, plus his personal effects and the bronze war memorial plaque and King's scroll, but it's possible these may have come to his sister.

We found no evidence of a dependant's pension being awarded.

In the 1921 census, Mary Elizabeth Mitchell was aged 36 and living at 37, Russell Street in Keighley. She was employed as a part time office cleaner and working at home for Mr. Whitley, an accountant. Also there was Mary Ann Preston aged 65 who was employed as a reeler by Messrs. Collingham, worsted manufacturers and spinners.
Mary Reeday was still living here as well, but at the time of the census she was visiting her cousins John Charles and Mary Bradbury, who ran the Post Office at Menwith with Darley in the North York Moors.

Mary Reeday died aged 81 in 1928 and her death was registered in Keighley in the last quarter of the year.

Mary Elizabeth was still living at 37, Russell Street in the 1939 register. By then she was aged about 55 and was still a caretaker for the Accountant's offices, assisted by Ethel Scaife aged 50.

Mary Elizabeth Mitchell died in 1954 aged 69 and her death was registered in the Worth Valley in the second quarter of the year.

Information sources:

England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915
England Roman Catholic Parish Baptisms
West Yorkshire, England, Electoral Registers, 1840-1962
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
1911 England Census
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995
Find a Grave.com
National Archives War diaries. 1/7 Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
National Library of Scotland Great War Trench map, sheet 57.C. South-East.
The Long, Long, Trail website - Casualty Clearing Stations
1921 Census Of England & Wales
1939 Register
England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007

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