Info required 5247805 Pte Ernest Walter MITCHELL

Discussion in 'REME/RAOC' started by stuart88, Mar 8, 2020.

  1. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    Hi all

    I hope I’m posting in the correct section, apologies if not.
    I’ve just been handed this down to me (pictured) which belonged to my great great Uncle. I have no other information to go with it but would very much liked to start researching. To begin with, I’d just like to know exactly what it is, was it standard issue? I’m also presuming the number would have been his number.
    I appreciate any help.

    Stuart
     

    Attached Files:

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  2. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Stuart,

    This is probably a plate that went on your G.G. Uncle's Army bed or another piece of furniture belonging to him at the time of his service. These are often called Duty Plate's. From the Army number shown and the Regimental badge, he was with the Worcestershire Regiment.
     
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  3. Steve Mac

    Steve Mac Very Senior Member

    Hello Stuart,

    I can’t identify the plate, but both the badge and service number belong to the Worcestershire Regiment.

    Best,

    Steve.
     
  4. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

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  5. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    Wow, you guys are awesome. Thank you so much for the help. I’ve just been googling and sadly found out he died 12/03/1943.
    I’m hoping with that info and what you have given me to find out some details on his death.
    Again, thank you
     
  6. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Casualty

    Private MITCHELL, ERNEST WALTER
    Service Number 5247805
    Died 12/03/1943
    Aged 34
    Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    Son of Walter and Lucy Mitchell; husband of Lilian Rose Mitchell, of Tattenhall Road.
    INSCRIPTION: PEACE, PERFECT PEACE
    Buried at TATTENHALL (ST. ALBAN) CHURCHYARD
    Location: Cheshire, United Kingdom
    Number of casualties: 3
    Cemetery/memorial reference: Grave 1424.
     
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  7. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    Bamboo43, thank you, that is great.

    Any suggestions on where to begin to look for the details of what happened that day?
     
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  8. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Often the forum would suggest applying for the soldier's Army records:

    Requests for personal data and service records: a detailed guide

    These records, which can take some time to arrive back from the MOD offices in Glasgow, may give further details on the RAOC unit Ernest was with and possibly what happened.

    Another avenue might be local newspaper reports from the time in question. Hopefully, other forum members may have some input to add.
     
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  9. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    Official Ww2 Casualty records on FMP state he died. But not from any wounds received.

    This suggests he probably died of an illness.

    Hope this helps

    Gus
     
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  10. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    Casualty List No. 1091 Dated 24 March 1943
    Home & Stations Abroad / Home / Died
    Royal Army Ordnance Corps
    5247805 MITCHELL Pte EW date of casualty 12.3.43
     
    Last edited: Mar 8, 2020
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  11. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

  12. Tony56

    Tony56 Member Patron

    18 March 1944
    Mitchell.jpg
     
  13. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    I honestly can’t thank all of you enough. For spending your own time looking into this for me.
    Tony, may I ask where you found this?
    Gmyles, that’s very interesting to hear, makes me have even more questions than answers now!

    Although extremely interested in WW2 history, I’m not clued you on how the Royal Army Ordnance Corps relates to the Worcestershire regiment, if someone could explain that?

    Again, thanks to you all.
     
  14. CL1

    CL1 116th LAA and 92nd (Loyals) LAA,Royal Artillery

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  15. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    Found on a family tree

    Ernest Walter Mitchell
    Birth 07/1909 Hungerford Berkshire England
    Marriage 04/1940 Newbury Berkshire England
    Residence 1941 Berkshire England
    Death 12/03/1943
    Father Walter Mitchell (1886-1948)
    Mother Lucy Emma Townsend (1887-1965)
    Spouse Lilian Rose Davies (1915-1997)

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    TD

    Are you connected to him/family?
     
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  16. bamboo43

    bamboo43 Very Senior Member

    Hi Stuart,

    The answer could well be as simple as a transfer from one Army unit (Worcester's) to another, in this case the RAOC. His number suggests he was posted to the Worcestershire Regiment in the first instance on enlistment.
     
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  17. gmyles

    gmyles Senior Member

    Hi

    This is pure conjecture and only his service records will have the real answer, but his illness was probably serious enough to make him unfit for the infantry and he was therefore transferred to the RAOC.

    Gus
     
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  18. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    This is what I’ve had handed down to me so it must have been a family member who uploaded it. I live 5 minutes out from Hungerford, so we’re not exactly an adventurous family!

    I have signed up to Ancestry and will hopefully get more info on there, I will also purchase his death certificate.
     
  19. stuart88

    stuart88 Member

    For anyone interested, Ernest is either the chap on the far right, or the man next to him higher up.
     

    Attached Files:

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  20. Tricky Dicky

    Tricky Dicky Don'tre member

    For sending with the service record application you dont need a death certificate per se - go to his casualty page on CWGC Casualty scroll down the page to this part Download commemorative certificate (PDF) and download it

    TD

    By the way on Ancestry - Ernest Walter Mitchell found in 7 trees

    If you do join then use this link for his family trees - Ernest Walter Mitchell - Ancestry.com
     
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