Black Watch soldier out in the cold 2431 A Mitchell DCM

[Black Jock]

I need some help please to bring a man in from the cold. He is 2431 Alexander Mitchell DCM. 1^st Bn The Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) I have his MIC, his citation, also his entry in the Forfar and District record of service. Unfortunately I can’t find any more information to enable me to get a death certificate that would enable me to bring Alexander in from the cold. I hope some kind person can help.

Tam

[ss002d6252]

When did he die ?. His MIC doesn't show a date of death.

Craig

[Black Jock]

I believe September 1916

[ss002d6252]

Was it at home or abroad ?

Craig

[Black Jock]

Abroad F& F

[ss002d6252]

No obvious sign of a will for him and nothing obvious on SDGW - how certain are you that he died ?.

Craig

[ss002d6252]

There's a few possibles on find my past's overseas death records.

http://www.findmypast.co.uk/search/armed-forces/results?rT=ARMED_FORCES&e=D&fY=1796&tY=2005&sn=Mitchell&fns=Alexander&route=X

Craig

[Black Jock]

Craig, thanks for that.

Tam

[johnboy]

Could this be him?

MITCHELL, ALEXANDER Rank: Corporal Service No: 3878 Date of Death: 10/09/1916 Regiment/Service: Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) 1st/4th Bn. Grave Reference IV. C. 19. Cemetery HEILLY STATION CEMETERY, MERICOURT-L'ABBE Additional Information:

View certificate

[Guest]

Hi Tam. You probably know this, but he doesn't appear in Wauchope's list as killed, but he does appear in the DCM list. There is also this from the Evening Telegraph Thursday 16th May 1918, a report which says " Private Alexander Mitchell, Black Watch, 26 John Street, Arbroath, is a prisoner of war. " Is that him?

URL http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000563/19180516/034/0003

Mike

[IPT]

It's odd. He was quite the celebrity in the Dundee Courier and Evening Telegraph in mid 1915 after winning his medal, sending a series of articles from the front to these papers, (he was also apparently the holder of the machine gun record in the British Army!).

However, I can't find any mention of his death in either newspaper.

[Guest]

There's also this man Alex Mitchell 3/9/1916

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000164/19160911/045/0004

Pte Alex Mitchell Black Watch, whose wife and child reside at 5 Queen Street, Montrose, was killed in action on 3rd September. Pte Mitchell had been acting as a stretcher-bearer, He was thirty years of age, and a baker to trade.

Mike

[PPCLI]

I can't make up my mind whether his MIC indicates issue of Clasp & Roses or just the Clasp. It does start off Clasp & Roses with issue voucher number and date, but then states Clasp (no mention of Roses) with another reference code. Clasp & Roses would indicate that he survived the war - the rosette was not issued to next-of-kin of 1914 Star soldiers who died in service.

Stuart

[ralphjd]

With you on this Stuart, I think he survived the war, the clasp and roses entry not crossed out, a bit confusing though. Ralph.

[Guest]

I think this might be him, died September 1931. Don't have time to transcribe at the moment. 3 Morgan St Dundee, won DCM Pilkem Ridge Father Andrew.

http://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000564/19310926/048/0003

Mike

[PPCLI]

Yes, I am siding towards survived (which is good!). Unless some other info turns up, it will probably need a check of the 1914 Star medal roll entry to clear it up properly. Even when not stated on the MIC, the medal roll entry (of 1914 Star or 1914-15 Star) usually states ultimate fate e.g. kia, discharged etc, with date.

Stuart

[Black Jock]

Thank you very much for all your efforts and input. Seems, I'll have to re-check things, but strange his name is mentioned on the Forfar War Memorial!

[ralphjd]

I have one, an MM winner on our war memorial who did not pass away until 1960, spoken to his g/son who never knew why his name was put forward. Ralph.

[PPCLI]

The man suggested in post #9 has correct rank and month of death. As far as I can tell from the SWMP site, the entry in the RoH doesn't actually state DCM, so perhaps Corporal 3878 is the soldier commemorated on the memorial?

All the best,

Stuart

[IPT]

I think Mike's got the right man.

Dundee's First D.C.M. in Great War

Death of Sergeant Alex. Mitchell After a short illness, Mr Alexander Mitchell, labourer, Morgan Street, Dundee, has died at Dundee Royal Infirmary. Mr Mitchell had the distinction of being the first Dundee man to win the D.C.M. in the Great War. Mr Mitchell, who was a son of the late Mr Andrew Mitchell, stevedore, 84 Ferry Road, Dundee, joined the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch in 1912. He crossed to France on 13th August 1914, and his first action was Soissons. He took part the battle of the Aisne. He gained the D.C.M. near Ypres, by carrying a wounded comrade to safety while under fire. The man was Mr James Mackie, of the same battalion, who now lives at 46 Hilltown. During an action Mitchell bent down to pick up a map. As he did he heard a bullet pass him. He turned round and saw his chum fall. He went to Mackie's assistance and carried him into a ditch. Afterwards he placed him in an old wheelbarrow which was lying in the ditch and conveyed him to a place of safety. Mackie had been wounded through the shoulder. Private Mitchell took part in severe fighting shortly afterwards and he was with Captain Fortune when that officer was the only officer left of the 1st Black Watch. Private Mitchell was wounded by an explosive bullet, which entered his back. He soon recovered, and when the war. finished he held the rank of sergeant in the King's African Rifles. Mitchell who was ? years of age, leaves a widow and two young children. His brother is Mr W. Mitchell, 75 Glenmarkie Terrace, Dundee who joined the 9th Black Watch as a ranker and received a commission.

[johnboy]

Tam

You say he died Sept 1916 in France. Was this info from the memorial?

[Black Jock]

Tam

You say he died Sept 1916 in France. Was this info from the memorial?

Yes,

I think Mike's got the right man.

Dundee's First D.C.M. in Great War

Death of Sergeant Alex. Mitchell After a short illness, Mr Alexander Mitchell, labourer, Morgan Street, Dundee, has died at Dundee Royal Infirmary. Mr Mitchell had the distinction of being the first Dundee man to win the D.C.M. in the Great War. Mr Mitchell, who was a son of the late Mr Andrew Mitchell, stevedore, 84 Ferry Road, Dundee, joined the 1st Battalion of the Black Watch in 1912. He crossed to France on 13th August 1914, and his first action was Soissons. He took part the battle of the Aisne. He gained the D.C.M. near Ypres, by carrying a wounded comrade to safety while under fire. The man was Mr James Mackie, of the same battalion, who now lives at 46 Hilltown. During an action Mitchell bent down to pick up a map. As he did he heard a bullet pass him. He turned round and saw his chum fall. He went to Mackie's assistance and carried him into a ditch. Afterwards he placed him in an old wheelbarrow which was lying in the ditch and conveyed him to a place of safety. Mackie had been wounded through the shoulder. Private Mitchell took part in severe fighting shortly afterwards and he was with Captain Fortune when that officer was the only officer left of the 1st Black Watch. Private Mitchell was wounded by an explosive bullet, which entered his back. He soon recovered, and when the war. finished he held the rank of sergeant in the King's African Rifles. Mitchell who was ? years of age, leaves a widow and two young children. His brother is Mr W. Mitchell, 75 Glenmarkie Terrace, Dundee who joined the 9th Black Watch as a ranker and received a commission.

IPT,

Thats the man. Thanks for your help, and of course everyone who contributed. The story you have related is the story I have except he is listed in the Forfar accounts as being killed, and he was a Dundonian and not a Forfarian. Again thanks for all your help as I have been sticking doggedly to the Forfar account, another mystery solved.

Yours aye

Tam

[IPT]

^{No problem, although it was skipman that solved the mystery.}

^{I have to say that, or he might thump me.}

[Guest]

^{No problem, although it was skipman that solved the mystery.}

^{I have to say that, or he might thump me. Aye, but just a virtual thump.}

Well, after post #10, and #12. I thought I had better get real.

Mike

[johnboy]

So when did he die? Not September 1916?