41 CSM William Mitchell Army Gymnastic Staff

[museumtom]

http://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/662658/MITCHELL,%20W

Try as I might I cannot find a single thing on this Sergeant Major, no MIC, no Records, he is not in Ireland's Memorial Records, or SDGW, just a snippet in the Anglo Celt that says he committed suicide. No further information.

There is nothing in FMP on this man either.

Can you help please? even just a first name would be brilliant.

Thanking you most kindly in advance.

Tom.

[alf mcm]

Tom,

It's William Mitchell, he was born in Ireland in 1861. There is a photo of his gravetone on Findagrave.

Regards,

Alf McM

[ralphjd]

SGT William Mitchell b 1861 Ireland died Bunderan Co Donegal Ralph.


EDIT. Slightly later than Alf

[johnboy]

As a Gymnastic Instructer he probably served at home hence no MIC.

[museumtom]

Thank you Rjaydee, John and Alf. That's great, thank you so very much.

[IPT]

Looks like he was from Perth.

A CUP OF BOVRIL BEFORE DEATH

A Man of Exemplary Character. The story of the suicide of Sergeant-Major Mitchell, gymnastic instructor, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who belonged to Perth, makes sad reading. The tragedy reported in Wednesday’s Advertiser occurred at Finner Camp, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal, and the full particulars emerged at the inquest, held in the Recreation Room at the Camp, before Coroner Boyle and a jury. Sergt. Fallon, 5.1.C.(RIC?), represented the Crown.

SHOT BEHIND A SCREEN.

Private H. Robinson, witness, deposed that he was a tailor attached to the 12th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, and knew the deceased (since last July) a gymnastic instructor, also attached to the battalion. Witness last saw him alive at quarter to five o’clock p.m. in in the camp on Friday evening, when they were in one of the huts together. Witness went for his tea, and deceased made a cup of bovril for himself. The Sergt.-Major was walking and down and went into a part of the hut that was separated by a screen; immediately afterwards witness heard report and thud. Witness ran into the hut and saw the man lying on his right side, his face covered with blood and a revolver lying on the floor almost two feet from his right side. Witness ran down to the Sergeants’ Mess, and and coming back met Captain Myles, who went into the hut and turned Mitchell on his back and put a pillow under his head. There was no other person the hut and deceased could not have been injured by any other person. Witness added that deceased had been complaining of Indian fever all the week and the evening of the fatality he looked to be depressed The deceased was sober.

THE CAPTAIN’S EVIDENCE.

Captain J. S. Myles, examined, stated that he was a captain attached to the 12th Battalion R.I. Fusiliers. Sergt.-Major Mitchell had been in his Company since last November. As he waa passing the hut at 5.S p.m. his attention was called by Corporal Petty who informed him that the Sergeant-Major bad shot himself. Witness went into the hut and found the man lying alongside the bed with his head against the wall; on the floor was a pool of blood and blood was from his mouth, and in and in his opinion the man was dead. Witness pulled him out on the floor into a more comfortable position and put a pillow under his head, and in doing so, he noticed blood coming from the back of the head.

There's more but i've run out of time for now.....

[museumtom]

Thank you IPT, we are like ships that cross in the night, I just found a similar article in the Donegal News at the same time!!

Thank you for thinking of me.

Kind regards.

Tom.