Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

A Great War O.B.E. group of three awarded to The Rev. P. R. Mitchell, Royal Army Chaplains Department

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, O.B.E. (Military) Officer’s 1st type breast badge, silver-gilt, hallmarks for London 1919; British War and Victory Medals (Rev.) mounted as worn

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt. A. J. Mitchell, Lanc. Fus.) back-strap of last clasp at one time fitted with a brooch fitting, this last with edge bruise to reverse, very fine £380-420

O.B.E. London Gazette 12 December 1919.

Percy Robert Mitchell was born in South Kensington in 1870, a son of Mr William C. Mitchell, of Somerset House and Hove. At Trinity College Cambridge, he took a B.A. in 1898 and an M.A. in 1902. Entering the Church, he was ordained a Deacon in 1899 and Priest in 1900. Served as Curate at All Saints, South Lambeth, 1899-1904. He officiated at his brother Arthur James’s wedding in 1906. Appointed a Chaplain to the Forces in 1904, he served at Bulford Camp, 1904-08; Bermondsey, 1908-10 and the Tower of London, 1911-15. On the Staff of the Chaplain-General, 1915-16. Mitchell entered the France/Flanders theatre of war in February 1916. For his wartime services he was awarded the O.B.E. in 1919. As Chaplain to the Forces 2nd Class he retired from the service in July 1920. Served as Rector of Stambourne in the Diocese of Chelmsford, 1920-22 and Vicar and Rector of Bodiam, 1922-31. He died on 3 March 1934. His two elder brothers, Sir Herbert Edward Mitchell, K.C.V.O. and Lieutenant-Colonel Arthur James Mitchell were executors of his Will. With copied research.

Arthur James Mitchell was born in London on 11 April 1866, an elder brother of the above. As a Subaltern in 1887, he was transferred from the Yorkshire Militia to the 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. Served as Adjutant, June 1895-August 1900; promoted to Captain in June 1893. During the Boer War he was employed with Mounted Infantry, serving in operations in the Transvaal, April-December 1901 and March-May 1902; operations in the Orange River Colony, January-March 1902 and operations in Cape Colony, May 1902. The Lancashire Fusiliers Annual of 1901 and 1902 contain articles by Captain Mitchell, with a war diary of the 4th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers’ Mounted Infantry activities in South Africa. For his services he was awarded the Queen’s medal with five clasps. Promoted to Major in January 1902. He married Fanny Beatrice Sharp at Brighton on 8 March 1906 - the service officiated by his younger brother. As a Lieutenant-Colonel he retired in 1913 suffering from deafness. With the onset of war he returned to the service but his disability precluded any overseas service. At Home he served on the Staff and in command of the Regiment’s Depot until 1920. After the war he retired to Tunbridge Wells and occupied himself in various charities. Latterly living at 3 Clanricarde Gardens, Tunbridge Wells, he died on 16 December 1935, aged 69 years. With a folder containing much research. The medal was the subject of an article in the November 2009 edition of Medal News.