Born in Hackney during 1895, son of William Henry (Commercial Clerk) and Elizabeth Matilda Mitchell. 1901: With his parents, sister Maude and brothers Horace & William at 17 Gotha Street, Hackney. In 1902 his mother died, so he and William were taken into care. 1911: These two lads are shown as Schoolboy Boarders with Frederick Palmer (Ledger Clerk) and his family at 12 Sunnyside Road, Leyton. It is speculation to wonder if they had been residents of the Barnardo’s Boy’s Village at Woodford Bridge, which would account for their association with the nearby 3rd Epping Forest Scout Troop. It is known that Percy held the position of Assistant Scoutmaster there, so perhaps, like his brother, he too had previously been a Scout.
Percy was living in Leyton and studying chemistry at the Children’s Hospital when he enlisted at St Paul’s Churchyard. Allocated to the Bedfordshire Regiment, following training he arrived in France on 21st April 1915.
On 12th October 1916 the Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Transloy Ridges on the Somme. At 14.05 each of four Companies would attack the German Gird Trench near Eaucourt l'Abbaye in waves separated by 100 yards. The first wave made good progress until they reached a ridge 60 yards in front, where they encountered very heavy rifle and machine gun fire. They managed to get to within 50 yards of Gird Trench before their advance was stalled.
In spite of mounting casualties, more progress was made by other Companies who managed to reach the German trenches. By the end of the action the Bedfordshires were holding about 200 yards of Bite Trench and about 70 yards of Gird Trench. They were the only Battalion of the Corps that gained any ground during the attack, but Sergeant Percy Mitchell had become one of the casualties.
After the war his recovered remains were identified by reference to his ID disc, and he was reinterred at Warlencourt Cemetery. His effects were sent to his father who was then living at "Tillingbourne" Leigh Cliff Road, Leigh-on-Sea.
X/R: Private William Edward Mitchell (Brother).
Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian
Sources:
Ancestry.com
Regimental History
War Diary