Augustus Holland Mitchell
The soldier:
Augustus Holland Mitchell enlisted in to the army in Tonbridge, Kent. He was assigned to the Queen’s own (Royal West Kent) Regiment and given regimental number G/417.
He died by drowning on Saturday 26th June 1915, aged just 21, in Ploegsteert, Belgium, whilst serving as a Private in the regiment’s 6th Battalion.
Augustus is buried in Plot III C.5 Rifle House Cemetery, Hainaut, Belgium. He is also commemorated on both of Snettisham’s memorials alongside his brother Charles (Charlie) Young Mitchell who also served and died in the war.
The CWGC website lists Augustus as the son of Mrs J Mitchell of Lynfield Terrace, Snettisham. However, this is in error as his mother’s initial was ‘S’ (for Susannah) his father’s initial was ‘J’ (for James).
The man:
Augustus (Gus) Mitchell was born on the 4th June 1893 in Snettisham, Norfolk. His parents were James Wilcan (or Wilkin) and Susannah Mitchell (nee Mindham) who had married in St. Mary’s Church, Snettisham on the 18th October 1873.
He was baptised on the 12th September 1897 in this same church. Church records list his father James’ occupation as ‘Gamekeeper’.
Augustus had a number of older siblings who were all born in Snettisham; Alice (born c.1877), Elizabeth (c.1879), Ernest (c.1881), Ethel (c.1883), Herbert (c.1886), Charlie (Charles Young c.1897) and twins Lewis and Harry (c.1890).
By the 1901 census the family were living on the Fring Road, Snettisham. James was still employed as a ‘Gamekeeper’. Ethel, Charlie, Lewis, Harry and Augustus (now 8) were at this address. There was one additional child in the house, Hector, aged 11 months. Hector was shown as James and Susannah’s Grandson but the record does not show to which sibling he was born.
Alice, Elizabeth, George, Ernest and Herbert had by now left home. Alice had gone to be a servant in Hanover Square, London. Elizabeth had married Walter Daniels, also of Snettisham, in 1899 (they went on to have 8 children). George was living as a ‘Page’ in York (By 1911 he had become a ‘Gamekeeper’ and moved to Farley Hill, Swallowfield nr. Reading and had married Florrie (nee Rideout)). Ernest was living in Butt Lane, Maidstone as a single ‘Gamekeeper’ (By 1911 he had married Ruth and was living in Hollingborne, Kent).
Augustus, known as ‘Gus’ at school, went to Snettisham School along with all of his siblings. He attended from the 1st June 1901 to the 2nd August 1907, when he left to work.
By the 1911 census, Augustus was 17. He had left Snettisham and was residing at his older sister Ethel’s address of 83, Fawe Park Road, Putney, Wandsworth, London (Ethel having married Frederick James Palmer and taken his name). His occupation was listed as ‘Gamekeeper’, Augustus following his father and brother’s in to that trade.
Ethel living in Putney and his brother Ernest by now living in Hollingborne, near Maidstone supports why Augustus enlisted in Tonbridge, Kent (a town quite near to both) rather than closer to Snettisham, Norfolk.
By 1911, James and Susannah had been married 36 years. They were living at a cottage on Park Lane, Snettisham with only Henry, Lewis and Hector (Hector is now listed as their son).
Of note is the fact that army correspondence relating to Augustus’ ‘personal effects’ following his death shows them returning to his mother Susannah but also his Fiancee Ms. Lucy Mansbridge.
