Pte 51725 Samuel Percy Mitchell

• Age: 32
• From: Montreal, Canada
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 20th Btn
• D.O.W Wednesday 12th December 1917
• Commemorated at: Wimereux Cc
  Panel Ref: VIII.A.26.A

Samuel Percy was born in 1885 or 1886 in Lachine, Montreal, Canada, the son of James Albert and Amy Mitchell (nee Parry). His parents married on the 20^th October 1879 at St. James' Church, New Brighton and emigrated to Canada shortly after the wedding. They returned about 1888.

They had 10 children, sadly two of whom died very young. Of the surviving children, George, Dora, Samuel and Charles were all born in Montreal, Amy and Grace were born in Wallasey and Jane and Mary were born in Liverpool.

The Census of 1891 shows the family living at 6 Bridgecroft Road, Wallasey. Samuel is aged 5, born in Canada and is at school, he lives with his parents and four siblings. His father is a 38 year old bar keeper born in Liverpool in 1853, whilst his mother is 34 years of age born in Liverpool in 1857. His siblings are listed as; George F. aged 9, Dora aged 7, Charles H. aged 3 and Amy E. aged 1.   

By 1901 the family are living at 6 Dell Street, Holt Road Liverpool where Samuel now aged 15 is employed as a Clerk. He lives with his parents and seven siblings. His father is now 48 years of age and an accountant's clerk, whilst his mother is 44. His siblings are listed as; George aged 19 and an accountant's clerk, Dora aged 17, Charles 13, Amy 11, Grace 9, Jane 6 and Mary 3.

The 1911 Census shows the family are still living at 6 Dell Street, Samuel now 25 is a commercial clerk in the Jute trade. Father James Albert is aged 58, a chartered accountants clerk, mother Amy is 54 and they have been married for 31 years and have had 10 children two of whom have died. Samuel's siblings are recorded in the household as; George Frederick a 29 year old commercial clerk, Amy Elizabeth a 21 year old shop assistant, Grace 19, Jane 16 and Mary 13.  

Samuel enlisted as Rifleman 4273 joining the 6th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment (Liverpool Rifles). He embarked from Folkestone-Boulogne  on 27th July 1916 reaching the 24th Infantry Base Depot on 29th July. He proceeded to 17th Battalion K.L.R. on 06th August and was posted to the 20th Battalion K.L.R. on 05th September 1916 as Private 51725.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 13th December 1918

MITCHELL - In loving memory of SAMUEL PERCY (private K.L.R, Pals), who died in France of wounds September 12,  1917. Also CHARLES HERBERT (sergeant K.L.R. Pals), died of wounds December 19, 1917, and sons of James A. and Amy, 6 Dell Street.

A bitter loss, a shock severe, 

To part with two we loved so dear. 

He died of wounds on 12th December 1917 and now rests at Wimmereux Communal Cemetery at VIII.A.26.A where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"SON OF JAMES ALBERT AND AMY MITCHELL OF LIVERPOOL".

Wimereux was the headquarters of the Queen Mary's Army Auxilliary Corps during the First World War and in 1919 it became the General Headquarters of the British Army. From October 1914 onwards, Boulogne and Wimereux formed an important hospital centre and until June 1918, the medical units at Wimereux used the communal cemetery for burials, the south-eastern half having been set aside for Commonwealth graves, although a few burial were also made among the civilian graves. By June 1918, this half of the cemetery was filled, and subsequent burials from the hospitals at Wimereux were made in the new military cemetery at Terlincthun. During the Second World War, British Rear Headquarters moved from Boulogne to Wimereux for a few days in May 1940, prior to the evacuation of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk. Thereafter, Wimereux was in German hands and the German Naval Headquarters were situated on the northern side of the town. After D-Day, as Allied forces moved northwards, the town was shelled from Cap Griz-Nez, and was re-taken by the Canadian 1st Army on 22 September 1944. Wimereux Communal Cemetery contains 2,847, Commonwealth burials of the First World War, two of them unidentified. Buried among them is Lt.-Col. John McCrae, author of the poem "In Flanders Fields." There are also five French and a plot of 170 German war graves. The cemetery also contains 14 Second World War burials, six of them unidentified. The Commonwealth section was designed by Charles Holden.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on Friday 13th December 1918

MITCHELL - In loving memory of SAMUEL PERCY (private K.L.R, Pals), who died in France of wounds September 12,  1917. Also CHARLES HERBERT (sergeant K.L.R. Pals), died of wounds December 19, 1917, and sons of James A. and Amy, 6 Dell Street.

A bitter loss, a shock severe, 

To part with two we loved so dear. 

Samuel's death was also reported in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 17th December 1917:

MITCHELL - December 13, in hospital of wounds received in action, aged 32 years, Lance Cpl Samuel Percy MITCHELL, second son of James A. and Amy Mitchell, 6 Dell Street.

His Soldiers Effects, army pay of £5 11s 11d, war gratuity of £9 went to father James. His mother Amy received a pension of 8/6 pw.

His family had to endure a further loss when his younger brother, Charles Herbert, was killed in action with the 12th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Serjeant 24757 on 19th December 1917 just one week after Samuel. 

Charles Herbert Mitchell was an original Liverpool Pal having enlisted in the 18th Battalion as Private 24757. He was transferred to the 12th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. He now rests at Mont Huon Cemetery V.D.11A where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"YOUNGEST SON OF JAMES ALBERT AND AMY MITCHELL LIVERPOOL"

Samuel Percy and Charles Herbert Mitchell are commemorated in the Book of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa.

On the 1921 Census at 6 Dell Street, his father is aged 69, a retired chartered accountant living with wife Amy 64, and children George 40, Amy 31, Jane 27 and Mary 23. 

Samuel Percy and Charles Herbert Mitchell are commemorated in the Book of Remembrance in the Memorial Chamber of the Peace Tower in Ottawa.

Both brothers are also commemorated on the War Memorial at St. Cyprians, Edge Hill.

Their mother died, aged 65, in the June quarter of 1922.

Their father died, aged 72, in the September quarter of 1925.  

Grateful thanks are extended to Kevin Shannon the author of the book The Liverpool Rifles for providing details of Samuel's service with the 6th Rifles.

We currently have no further information on Samuel Percy Mitchell. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.