Henry Layte (Lait) Mitchell
The Soldier:
Henry Layte (Lait) Mitchell enlisted in Kings Lynn and joined the Norfolk Regiment. He was assigned to the 8th Battalion and given regimental number 32049.
He was ‘killed in action’ on the 10th March 1917, aged 28 and is buried in Ovilliers Military Cemetery, Somme, France. His grave reference is X.V.8.
Henry’s name, date and place of death is inscribed on the headstone of his nephew Sidney’s grave in St. Mary’s Church yard, Snettisham along with his brother Thomas’s name.
The man:
Henry Layte (Lait) Mitchell was born on the 24th October 1889 in Snettisham, Norfolk to Robert (48) and Jane (42) Mitchell. Jane’s maiden name was Lait and it is highly probable that Henry was given a phonetic spelling of this name as his middle name (it appearing as both Lait and Layte in various documents).
Henry was baptised on the 29th March 1891 in St. Mary’s church, Snettisham.
In 1891, Henry (2) lived in Snettisham with his parents and older siblings; Lewis (16), Emma (13), Thomas (11), Agnes (7) and Elizabeth (5).
Another older sister, Ellen M (Sidney Mitchell’s mother) is residing elsewhere in Snettisham as a live-in ‘domestic servant’.
Henry’s mother, Jane passed away on the 15th January, 1895 at the age of 47. She is buried in St. Mary’s church yard, Snettisham. Henry was just 6 at the time.
Henry went to Snettisham school (still in existence today as Snettisham primary school) from the 24th October 1889 until the 12th October 1903, leaving to ‘work’.
In 1901, Henry (now 11) lived at Hall Farm Cottage, Snettisham with his father Robert (58), brother William (26) and sister Ellen M (24) who has returned to the family home with a son, Sidney (aged 3).
By the 1911 census, Henry (now 21) lived at Chapel Cottage, Snettisham along with his sister Ellen M (34) and her son Sidney (13). Henry is single at this time and his occupation is listed as ‘labourer’.
Henry’s story is particularly tragic as he is one of three sons the Snettisham Mitchell’s lost to the war; Henry, Thomas and Sidney. All three are commemorated on Snettisham’s memorials and ‘Roll Of Honour’.
