Mitchell brothers - La Clytte Miltary cemetery

[Ellis1918]

While researching the Great War memorial of a local steel works I noticed that 2 brothers William Henry and Leonard Mitchell were both buried in the same cemetery , La Clytte. The oldest brother William Henry served with 107th brigde RFA and was KIA 9 Aug 1917, his younger brother Leonard served with 8th Y&L and died 19 Sep 1917 just 6 weeks later. I was intrigued and researched them further and was surprised to discover that Leonard was "shot at dawn" for desertion after earlier self inflicting wounds twice in early 1917. He had been awarded 42 days FP number1 , a death sentence which was commuted to 10 years penal servitude and later suspended 4 days before his brother was killed. The death sentence was confirmed in Sept 1917 and signed by Field Marshall Haig.

CWGC notes that they were brothers and Leonard "died in service"