The Mitchell name was the most widespread in Winkleigh before 1914, and no name appears so often in our research. No less than 11 Mitchells are included in the records, two on the Memorial Roll and nine on theThe Roll of Honour. There were five branches of the Mitchells recorded in the Winkleigh census in 1911, and since many first names are in common, it can be quite confusing to distinguish between them. The five branches are:

1.   The family of Samuel Mitchell, a thatcher living at Chubbs, Lowertown, with his wife Lucy Cockwill. There were four daughters and a son, William, who was killed in the battle of Passchendaele on 31st October 1917, serving in the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. His account, together with his family tree is written on the Roll of Honour on this web-site.

2.   The family of John Mitchell, a blacksmith and shoeing smith, with his wife Grace, living on the Exeter Road. There were six boys and a girl. 4 sons served in the war, a proud record indeed and one of which John and Grace must have been justifiably proud. The 1911 census lists those at home: the eldest, William aged 21 who was working as a blacksmith with his father. Then Percy, aged 18, a gardener, followed by Alfred, 13, in his last months at Winkleigh School, and Samuel, 7, also a schoolboy. Two sons had already left home: Richard George who joined the navy as a boy-cadet at the age of 15, and his younger brother Henry, aged 15 in 1911, working as a farm boy on John Westaway’s Weekhouse Farm outside Winkleigh.

3.   The family of William Mitchell, a carpenter, and his wife Emma, living in Park Place. In 1911 there were 3 daughters including Alice, and Albert W., then aged 14. They were living very near Park Place, just by Court Barton. Albert served in the 6th Devons.

4.   The family of Charles, a carpenter, and his wife Ellen Mitchell living in 1881 in Red Lane, with three children, Charles aged 3, Ellen, 2, and Arthur aged 8 months. By 1901 they were at Hilliers with Ellen and two sons, George J, 13, and Frank, 6. By 1911 they are described as living in a private house just below Court Barton. George had left home, Frank Albert was 17 and a new child, Arthur W. was 5.
Arthur and Frank both served in the Royal Army Service Corps Arthur W. served in the Devons. Frank Albert enlisted in 1915 as a telephonist in the Royal Engineers. Left on his own, his wife dead, Charles (the elder) enlisted in the Royal Engineers aged 62, giving his age as 51, the maximum age for enlisting in 1917.

5.   The family of Richard, the Sexton, and his wife Ellen, who in 1901 were living in Mount Pleasant with their two children, Richard aged 16 and Emily, 14. Richard was at that time an agricultural labourer.
The same name, Richard, appears now on the roll of honour and the Memorial Roll. Richard died in 1919 and is buried in Winkleigh Churchyard. His name first appears on the Roll of Honour because the illuminated Scroll in the church was made before his death in 1919. We have added the history of his war service on the Memorial Roll as well as on the Roll of Honour.

Memorial Roll

Richard Mitchell	Son of Richard (Sexton) in Mount Pleasant. Died 12th Sept 1919. His name also appears on the Roll of Honour.
William Mitchell	Son of Samuel of Lowertown, killed 31st Oct 1917 at Passchendaele.

Roll of Honour

Mitchell A.W.	Albert (Bert), son of William the carpenter, Park Place. 6th Devons
Mitchell A.	Arthur, Son of carpenter Charles and Ellen, Red Lane. Royal Army Service Corps.
Mitchell C	The carpenter Charles enlisted well over age after Ellen's death. Royal Engineers.
Mitchell F.	Frank. Son of carpenter Charles and Ellen, Red Lane. Royal Army Royal Army Service Corps
Mitchell F.A.	Frank Albert, Son of the carpenter Charles and Ellen, Red Lane. Royal Engineers
Mitchell H	Henry. Son of blacksmith John and Grace, Exeter Road. 6th Battalion Devons.
Mitchell P	Percy. Son of blacksmith John and Grace, Exeter Road. 6th Battalion Devons.
Mitchell R G	Richard George. Son of blacksmith John and Grace, Exeter Road, served on HMS Warspite
Mitchell W	William. Son of blacksmith John and Grace, Exeter Road. Devonshire Regiment