Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Alonzo Mitchell, an agricultural labourer, born 1852 in East Leake, Nottinghamshire (son of John Mitchell, 1817-1903 and Frances Henson, 1821-1864) and his wife Martha Mitchell (nee Maddock, married in the January quarter of 1873 in the Shardlow, Derbyshire district), born in the July quarter of 1853 in Ratcliffe on Soar, Nottinghamshire and baptised on the 25th June 1854 in Holy Trinity Church, Ratcliffe on Soar (daughter of Benjamin Maddock, 1818 and Elizabeth Elliott, 1823). Frank Mitchell was born in 1883, his siblings were, John, born 1875 and Ben, a farm boy, born on the 17th October 1877, the latter two siblings were both born in Nottingham, Sarah, a schoolgirl, born in the October quarter of 1880 in Leicestershire, Margaret Ann (Maggie), born in the July quarter of 1885 in Derbyshire, Willie, born in the January quarter of 1888 and Fanny born in the April quarter of 1891, the latter two siblings were both born in Kegworth, Leicestershire, in April 1891 the family home was in High Street, Kegworth, Leicestershire.
In March 1901 Frank was absent from the family home in Mill Lane, Kegworth, residing there was his father, a labourer, his mother and siblings, Willie, Fanny, and Lottie, born in the July quarter of 1893 in Kegworth.
In April 1911 Frank remained absent from the family home at 33, Villa Street, Beeston, Nottinghamshire, residing there was his widowed mother, a charwoman and laundress and his siblings, Willie, a farm cowman, Fanny, a curtain mender, and Lottie a cotton trade worker.
Frank married Hannah Pervin in the April quarter of 1914 in Loughborough, Leicestershire, Hannah was born on the 29th May 1893 in Loughborough, they had two children, Lottie, born on the 13th July 1914 in Loughborough and Hannah, born on the 27th June 1916 in Barrow upon Soar.
FAMILY NOTE: There is no trace of Frank’s official birth registration, nor can he be found during the 1901 and 1911 census records.
Frank’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Loughborough into the Territorial Force. Date not known.
Joined. At Leicester. Date not known.
Posted. To Depot Leicestershire Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 4723.
Posted. To 1/5th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. (Territorial Force). Pte. Date not known.
First entered the theatre of war in France after the 31st December 1915.
Transferred. To 12th Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number G/15092.
Transferred. To 7th Bn. Royal Sussex Regt. Pte. Date not known.
Killed in action. In the Field. 18/9/18.
Buried in Epehy Wood Farm Cemetery, Epehy, France.
Awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, Frank nominated his wife Hannah as his sole legatee.
The War Diary records: 18 Sep-18 – Battalion attacked at dawn. Very heavy Machine Gun fire, owing to EPEHY not being mopped up by the troops in front. Alpine Corps fought hard for the village. Our casualties about 200 Other Ranks.
Officers killed in action: Lieutenant J. A. WRIGHT. 2nd Lieutenant’s T. MENNIE, E. C. ERICSON, W. HOWETT, S. G. HUGGETT.
Officers wounded: Lieutenant’s H. J. R. FARROW, F. W. READING, A. C. W. ULOTH, 2nd Lieutenant’s F. L. WRIGHT, W. T. AXELL, H. C. GOODWIN, A. J. LYONS, H. STEPHEN.
The Battalion finally established positions East of EPEHY on the railway bank, and remained under very heavy sniping and Machine Gun fire.
On Friday October 18th 1918, The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “BARROW-ON-SOAR.” – LOCAL SOLDIERS KILLED. – Mr. and Mrs. J. Dilks, of North-street, Barrow on Soar, have been notified that their eldest son, Pte. W. Dilks, has been wounded and admitted to hospital – for the third time. Mrs. Frank Mitchell, of North-street, Barrow on Soar, is informed that her husband, Pte. Frank Mitchell, Royal Sussex Regiment, has been killed in action. Prior to enlistment he worked for Messrs. John Ellis and Sons, and was a member of the Barrow Prize Silver Band. He leaves a widow and two young children.
On the 5th April 1919 Frank’s widow Hannah, of 39, North Street, Barrow upon Soar, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of twenty-five shillings and five pence for herself and her two children, commensurate on the 14th April 1919.
[recognitum XXV-IX-MMXXIII]