George Clerkstone Mitchell

Second Lieutenant George Clerkstone Mitchell served with the 2nd battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment. He was killed in action on 21st March 1918 whilst holding the line near Morchies, France on the opening day of the German Spring Offensive or (Kaiserschlact)Commemorated: Arras Memorial, France. Bay 7.

Mansfield Chronicle Advertiser: 04/04/1918: 2nd Lieutenant G C Mitchell had been reported missing but now presumed killed. A letter from a friend was printed in the following edition.Article published 8th April 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- A wounded comrade, Second Lieutenant Thomas Alfred Bennett, wrote to his family from hospital with the news.“I have lost a good chum. He died as he wished – in harness, his favourite remark in the mess being that of an officer and gentleman – 'If they are going to knock me out I hope I shall have this lot on,' meaning his equipment. He was one of the bravest men we have seen, and a good officer. His platoon worshipped him, and he loved his men. As a chum I cannot speak too highly. He and I have had good times together, and I shall honour his memory as long as I live.” Article published in the Mansfield Reporter and Sutton Times 12th April 1918 :- An anonymous colleague, though probably Second Lieutenant Bennett again, gave further details of the circumstances of his death.“We were in a support line in front of Lagincourt, and the Germans bombarded us for four hours, then attacked. It was during the bombardment that George was killed. I did not see him myself, but my company commander, Captain [Marmaduke Marshall] Shaw, [MC] who was killed shortly afterwards, came and told me that George had been killed, and most of his platoon wiped out. Shortly afterwards I got the message that Captain Shaw was killed, thus leaving me the only officer in the company. Soon afterwards I was forced to retire about 50 yards, and there I found what was left of the company, about 20 men. They confirmed what Capt. Shaw had said. I beg to be allowed to offer my sincerest sympathies and to assure you that George died as he wished to die, in harness. His favourite remark in the “mess,” was the saying of an officer and a gentleman, ‘If they’re going to knock me out I hope I’ll have this lot on, and not be caught napping’. By ‘this lot’, he meant his equipment. He was one of the bravest men I have ever seen, and he was a good officer. His platoon worshipped him, and he loved them. As a chum I cannot speak too highly of him. He and I have had good times and bad times together, and shall treasure his memory as long as I live.” Above articles are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918.