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General => Armed Forces => Topic started by: baloo on Monday 15 October 18 13:49 BST (UK)
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Hi Please can anyone help. I am trying to find more info on Wlliam George Mitchell, b1889 in Melksham Wiltshire, I have found him in the 1911 census age 23. On the census it says, Driver 84th Battery RFO Celon& India.Can anyone explain what this is.
Many thanks Baloo
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If you look at the entry it says “Military” so indicative of somebody serving in the forces. Ceylon & India was his location at the time of the census
If you look at the actual entry it should read RFA not RFO. Use Google to find what RFA means and you get Royal Field Artillery
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Presumably the 1911 entry is for the 84th Battery RFA 'Overseas Military' who were based in Belgaum, India at the time the census was taken.
http://www.rootschat.com/links/01mv3/
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84 Battery was one of the three batteries of XI Brigade Royal Field Artillery in the 7th Meerut Division which travelled to France in September 1914.
Although his age would suggest that all things being equal, he would have served on into the war years, there appear to be no identifiable Great War records. The only William George Mitchell went to France in August 1914 with 40 Brigade from UK.
Do you have any other clues to possible army service?
MaxD
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Thanks to all for the info. the only other info is possibly his army number 34497
Baloo
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Doesn't seem to register any hits anywhere in Great War records in combination with the name.
MaxD
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Hi. Ok thanks will keep looking
Baloo
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Hi the only other info that I have is a number, I assume army number 34997, thats all I have
Regards Baloo
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Hello again Baloo
A fresh look using name and number combinations, name and number alone, at all the records that may be him, including army deaths, silver war badge discharges, Commonwealth War Grave still turns up nothing that can be positively identified as him I'm afraid.
If, for whatever reason, he remained in India when the brigade that his battery was part of went to France in Sept 1914 there would be no medal record and if his records are among the 60% or so that were lost in WW2 then he would be among the very many for whom no records can be found.
MaxD
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34997 is a refernce to the piece number for the 1911 Census
MITCHELL, WILLIAM GEORGE BROWN
GRO Reference: 1888 S Quarter in MELKSHAM Volume 05A Page 107
did try looking for a Robert Noble who was on the same page as W G on the 1911 Census and he appears to have served as a driver in the 43 Brigade, Royal Field Artillery from 1914 onwards.
Some information on William George Mitchell, Service Number 47999, a Driver in the Royal Field Artillery who was demobilised in October 1919. Question is whether your W G had a connection to Bristol? A William George married to an Ivy L Lewis in 1927 and again to Mary L Lewis in 1929, both in Melksham RD. Another William George married to Maude M Miller in Bristol in 1920.
The second page of the newspaper states that the town shown is that of the soldier's next-of-kin (unless stated to be his place of enlistment).
Weekly Casualty List (War Office & Air Ministry ) 06 November 1917
(No. 5042.)
WAR OFFICE WEEKLY CASUALTY LIST, NOVEMBER 6th, 1917
Daily List of October 29th (contd.).
PART VIII. W.Os N.C.Os AND MEN (contd.)
WOUNDED.
ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.
Mitchell 47999 W G Dvr (Bristol)
https://search.findmypast.co.uk/bna/viewarticle?id=bl%2f0001952%2f19171106%2f021&stringtohighlight=mitchell%2047999
William G Mitchell in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: William G Mitchell
Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regimental Number: 47999
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?h=4659306&dbid=1262&indiv=1
William George Mitchell in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: William George Mitchell
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: Driver
Unit: Royal Field Artillery
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment Number: 47999
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?h=4352995&dbid=5119&indiv=1
W G Mitchell in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
View UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: W G Mitchell
Military Year: 1914
Rank: Driver
Unit: 40th Brigade Royal Field Artillery
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regiment Number: 4799 9
Medal Awarded: 1914 Star
https://search.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&db=IWOServiceMedalAwardRolls&h=5177845
WO 363 - First World War Service Records 'Burnt Documents
Originating Record WO 363. 13/62823 Arthur George Chapman, King's Royal Rifle Corps
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FWO363-4%2FSUPP%2F65044
Soldier Number: 47999, Rank: Driver, Corps: Royal Field Artillery
WO372/14
Campaign Medal Index Cards and Silver War Badge Cards
https://www.findmypast.co.uk/transcript?id=GBM%2FMCI%2F3075952
Reference: WO 372/14/40921
Description:
Medal card of Mitchell, William G
Corps Regiment No Rank
Royal Field Artillery 47999 Driver
Date: 1914-1920
Held by: The National Archives, Kew
Legal status: Public Record(s)
Closure status: Open Document, Open Description
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D4087260
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A William George, 32, Bachelor, a Shop Assistant, son of George William Mitchell, a Haulier married Maude Mercy Miller, 33, Spinster, daughter of William Miller at Saint George, Bristol, 12 July 1920
A William George Mitchell (recorded on Ancestry as William Goerge) and Leonard Albert Mitchell were baptised to George William and Rosina Mitchell at Melksham, Wiltshire
By 1901 the family are living in Saint Werburgh, Bristol with George (45) (born Geddington, Northamptonshire) listed as a Horse? Keeper - the two youngest children Florence (3) and Herbert (1) were both born in Bristol. Rose (34), William (12) and Leonard (11) were all born in Melksham, Wiltshire.
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Diligent searching by mutchall!
However we have to make the assumption that the man in 84 Battery in India in 1911 is the same man who was in 40 Brigade in UK in 1914 and went with them to France in August 1914. I mentioned the 40 Brigade man in an earlier post but without evidence of his posting or other evidence was reluctant to cite him. Not beyond the bounds of possibility though that he had finished his engagement between 1911 and the start of the war, was then on the reserve and was recalled during mobilization to 40 Brigade.
The Melksham connection in the 1911 seems to be a solid clue that seems to link with mutchall's findings. The Bristol Mitchell could well be the one registered 3rd quarter 1884 Bristol district who is older than the 84 Battery man and who appears to be living in Bristol and married in 1911. The casualty list mention of Bristol though upsets the applecart a little.
All a bit too flimsy for surety.
MaxD
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There is a William George Mitchell, born 05 June 1884, Bristol, who appears to have served in the Royal Navy ftom 10 April 1902 to 10 November 1920.
There's also W G Mitchell, Second Lieutenant, RFA
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/a/A13530124
The above Second Lieutenant had an address in Norfolk
W G Mitchell in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
Name: W G Mitchell
Regiment or Corps: Royal Field Artillery
Regimental Number: 156660
https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?h=4659294&dbid=1262&indiv=1
Address
St Heliers
N Walsham
Norfolk
W G Mitchell in the UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
UK, WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Name: W G Mitchell
Military Year: 1914-1920
Rank: 2nd Lieutenant
Unit: Royal Field Artillery
Company: WO 329
Regiment or Corps: Officers (Various Regiments)
Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal
https://search.ancestrylibrary.com/cgi-bin/sse.dll?h=4362666&dbid=5119&indiv=1