Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Corporal W. Mitchell, 2nd Battalion, Essex Regiment, who was killed in action on the Aisne on 13 September 1914

1914 Star, with copy clasp (7309 Cpl. W. Mitchell. 2/Essex R.); British War and Victory Medals (7309 Cpl. W. Mitchell. Essex R.); Memorial Plaque (William Mitchell) in card envelope, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, nearly extremely fine (4) £240-£280

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals.

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William Mitchell was born in Cambridge in 1886 and attested there for the Essex Regiment in November 1902. He served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 27 August 1914 and was killed in action at the crossing of the Aisne on 13 September 1914:
‘On September 13th, in pouring rain, the Battalion crossed the Aisne. They left the bivouac at 7 a.m., the unit being ordered to march via Billy-sur-Aisne and Venizel to Ste. Marguerite. After an hour’s rest, Venizel was reached at 9 a.m and the Battalion was temporarily halted in column in a field by the roadside, in readiness for crossing first the railroad and then the river bridge. The girders of the latter had been cut, but the reinforced concrete of the roadway was strong enough to take infantry. Whilst waiting to pass over, enemy shell-fire was active and the machine gun teams had a number of casualties, heavier losses being avoided because one of the companies had just moved to shelter in a sunken road...
The Pompadours, after crossing, traversed the two miles of water meadows to Bucy-le-Long in extended order, ten paces
interval, at 100 yards distance, and though the shell-fire was heavy, the casualties were slight. “ D ” Company brought up the rear...
The Essex were ordered to cover an attack upon Chivres trenches by the Lancashire Fusiliers. The effort was not successful owing to heavy fire from the south of Chivres village and the western slopes of the Chivres spur. The Pompadours then held the high ground north of Ste. Marguerite, with their right thrown back along the eastern side of the wood before-mentioned. There they dug in and remained for the night, Lancashire Fusiliers on the right and the King’s Own on the left. The position possessed elements of anxiety owing to enemy activity and for a time small arms ammunition ran short, but this danger was relieved at 6.25 p.m., when three cart-loads were received. The casualties were light, comprising ten killed and 32 wounded.’ (Essex Units in the Great War 1914-1919 Vol 2. 2nd Bn. The Essex Regt. by John Wm. Burrows, F.S.A.)

He was the son of John Mitchell and husband of Maud Elizabeth Alice Thomas (formerly Mitchell) of 6 Stone Terrace, Stone St., Cambridge. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

Sold together with Record Office transmission letter (torn) for the British War and Victory Medals.