Lives of the First World War

My grandfather, Fred Mitchell enlisted in 1916 and was serving in France from August 1917.From letters he sent to his fiance, Florence (Flossie) Plowes we can deduce he was serving with 17th Field Battery, R.G.A. in the Bethune- Arras region. He was a wireless specialist, communicating with spotter aircraft to identify targets behind the German lines. In the photo he is seated, front row far left.

My Grandad, Frederick Robert Mitchell was born at Adwalton, W. Yorkshire in 1892. At the time he enlisted in 1916 he was resident in Harrogate. He served in France 1917-18, and when demobbed, returned to work as a scrap metal and rag merchant with his father. He married Florence Plowes in 1920. My mother, Joyce was born in 1923, and my Uncle, Martin in 1925, who would inherit the family business when his father retired. Fred Mitchell died in 1966.