Soldier Record

9012 Pte Archibald Clark Mitchell killed Battle of Aisne France 17.9.1914 age 24

Achibald Clark Mitchell was born 26.3.1890 Bridgeton Glasgow parents William Mitchell and Margaret Kay Clark, he was the second of three brother and one sister. Archie as he was known in the family suffered the loss of his mother in 1900 his father remarried in 1906 to my great grandmother Marion Campbell and my granmother Janet McMillian Mitchell was born in 1907. It was from my grandmother that I learned of "Great Uncle Archie" and his death in WW1. Archie enlisted in the army on 17.1.1911 with the 1st Batt Queens Own Cameron Highlanders and served with the 9th Highland Light Infantry Territorial Force. Archie was among the first soldiers sent to France. The events of his death as related to me by my grandmother state that Archie became an early fatality due to the enemy bombardment of his regiments position during the Battle of Aisne on the 17.9.1914. Archie was helping to quiet frightened horses and mules when a shell exploded close by killing Archie and the anilmals instanly, it was three days before his body was retrieved for burial. Archie was first buried outside the walls of the local churchyard due to the objection of locals then reburied at Vendresse British Cemetery Aisne France. I was told by my granmother that Archie was the first soldier from the East End of Glasgow to die in WW1, the sorrow his death caused was evident in the telling of his death by my grandmother.