George Frederick Mitchell
Date of death: 24.1.1917
Area: Pontefract
Regiment: Durham Light Infantry
Family information: Son of Ellen Mitchell, of Wakefield Road Pontefract and the late William Mitchell.
Rank: Private
Service number: 41190
War Service
“There is the utmost sympathy in Pontefract with Mr and Mrs William Mitchell of Wakefield Road in the grievous loss they have sustained by the death of their eldest son, George Frederick Mitchell (KOYLI) attached to the Durham Light Infantry. The sympathy is the more so because of the tragic nature of the soldier’s death. He was called up on August 17th and latterly has been stationed at Stourton, Stourbridge, hear Wolverhampton and in the ordinary course of things he would have gone to some foreign field shortly. Yesterday week his parents received the sad intelligence from deceased’s landlady (he was in a private billet) that he had been killed by a falling tree. As the military did not deem it necessary for the family to be represented at the inquest (which was held on Friday) they have as yet very few particulars as to his end. They do know that he was near to where some trees were being felled and that he was knocked down by a falling tree and killed instantaneously.
The deceased, who was 31, single, was a bricklayer well known in Pontefract and the district. He served his apprenticeship with Messrs Walker and Ward, Pontefract, but for some time prior to becoming a soldier he had worked for Mr Gallagher of Castleford.
The funeral was arranged to take place on Monday afternoon, but owing to a misunderstanding, the body did not arrive at Pontefract until Tuesday and it was laid to rest on the afternoon of that day. The Band of the KOYLI from Pontefract Barracks and a firing party attended and men in khaki were bearers. The band played suitable music from the house to the cemetery and at the graveside some volleys were fired and the “Last Post” was sounded. The Vicar (Canon Gell) officiated. The chief mourners were the parents; Mr and Mrs Peacock (Newcastle) and Mr and Mrs Johnson (Grimsby) sisters and brothers-in-law; Miss Mitchell, sister; and Miss Armitage. Deceased’s only brother, Private C R Mitchell, (Notts and Derbys) is in France. Amongst other attending were Mr George Spurr (slater), Mr W Sweeting (representing the Bricklayers’ Union) and four of Mr Gallagher’s employees. Floral tributes were sent by “Mother and Father and Nellie”; “Lucy and Harry”; Mr and Mrs Johnson and the Castleford Branch of the Old Bricklayers’ Society”.
Extract taken from the Pontefract and Castleford Express of 2.2.1917.
He is buried in Pontefract cemetery.
Pontefract Cemetery
