Private Willie Mitchell aged 29

Willie Mitchell was a Private in the Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment and had enlisted in Derby. Like many of those who fought in the Battle of Arras (April to June 1917) he has no known grave, but is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France. He’s also commemorated on the church window, the St James’s Chapel Roll of Honour and the Working Mens’ Club Roll of Honour (now in the Lord Nelson Inn). Willie was born in 1888 in Ovenden. His mother Grace Brooksbank, (nee Mitchell) was living at 1 Bank Bottom, now known as Spring Bank in 1911 with her other son Leonard Brooksbank who was also killed during the war. She passed away in December 1917, the same year as her two sons. The War Diaries from the 9th Battalion West Riding show that on April 25th enemy shell barrages began at 3.37 in the morning and that there were many attempts to move forwards, making ground but then retiring. By 8am (quote) “dawn was breaking after our 4 th attempt was tried and the Co thought that any further attempt would be useless … Our casualties were heavy 4 officers wounded and 3 missing and 210 other ranks. Later that day, the Battalion came out of the trenches at night and proceeded to Arras”

He was one of five men remembered on our memorial that had died in April/ May and commemorated on the Arras memorial.