Feb 25, 1893

Born at Marmora Ontario

Below was taken in 1910 

Nov 7, 1914

Attested into the 21^st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59666 (temporary number 450)

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Emma Mitchell of Smiths Falls Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Bookkeeper

Ø      No previous military experience given

Ø      Religion given as Presbyterian

Ø      Initially assigned to “D” Company in the 8 Company system, but when the Battalion was reorganized into the 4 Company system, he became part of “B” Company

Feb 13, 1915

The 21^st Battalion held a sports day at the Kingston Armouries and Pte Mitchell, along with Pte Toms won 1^st place in the 100 yard Wheelbarrow race in a time of 23 seconds

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal Quebec

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to the West Sandling Camp near Hythe Kent 

Temporarily appointed to rank of Lance Corporal with pay

Jul 1, 1915

Confirmed in rank of Lance Corporal with pay

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked the St Seiriol at Folkestone

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France and proceeded to St Omer 

Promoted to rank of Corporal to replace Cpl WW Harper who had remained in England

Nov 11, 1915        

Seriously wounded by shrapnel from a rifle grenade to head, right hand and both legs.  While being carried to the Dressing Station, his left leg was also fractured.  He was then sent to the No 8 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) and transferred the same day to No 3 CCS 

Below is from the Battalion’s War Diary for Novemaber 11

Nov 12, 1915

Transferred via No 3 AT (Ambulance Train) and admitted to No 13 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne

Nov 13, 1915

Placed on the dangerously ill list and surgery performed to remove shrapnel and to amputate his left leg at lower 1/3 of his thigh as a result of gas gangrene

Nov 16, 1915

Reported in the Kingston Daily British Whig in the Casualty List as being Dangerously Wounded

Nov 22, 1915

Removed from the dangerously ill list

Nov 25, 1915

Invalided to England aboard the Hospital Ship St Denis

Posted to 39^th Reserve Battalion while in hospital

Nov 27, 1915

Admitted to the Duchess of Connaught Canadian Red Cross Hospital at Taplow and additional surgery performed to remove more shrapnel

Feb 15, 1916

TOS (Taken On Strength) the CCAC (Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre) while in hospital

Apr 24, 1916

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital at Ramsgate

Apr 27, 1916

Transferred to the Canadian Convalescent Hospital at Bearwood Park, Wokingham

Jun 14, 1916

Transferred to the Military Hospital at Shorncliffe

Jun 21, 1916

Transferred to the Charrington Military Hospital at Cambridge

Jul 14, 1916

Transferred to the Granville Canadian Special Hospital at Ramsgate

Aug 11, 1916

Discharged to the CCAC at Shorncliffe

Aug 12, 1916

On Command to CDD (Canadian Discharge Depot) at Bath pending discharge to Canada.  It is noted here that an artificial leg will be supplied in Canada

Medical Board at Bath recommends that he not be discharged until he is in receipt of his first payment of a pension which totals $288 per year

Sep 1, 1916

Embarked the SS Grampian at Liverpool England

Sep 10, 1916

Disembarked at Montreal Quebec and proceeded to Military District #2, Toronto Ontario, where he was admitted to a Convalescent Hospital.  Although not stated in the file, this was most likely the Christie Street Orthopedic Hospital

Dec 28, 1916

Discharged from the CEF at Toronto Ontario 

Ø      A Class “A” War Service Badge would have been issued but the number is not recorded in the file

Nov 12, 1917

Admitted to the North Toronto Convalescent Hospital as an outpatient

Apr 1, 1921

British War Medal and Victory Medals were sent to him at Cochrane Ontario

Jun 4, 1976

Died at the Sunnybrook Veterans Hospital, Toronto Ontario

Cochrane Civic Cemetery, Cochrane Ontario 

Robert Roy Mitchell was elected President of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 89 in Cochrane Ontario in 1927 and held the post for 2 years.  He was also elected to office of Mayor of Cochrane from January 1930 to December 1933, January 1936 to March 1938, and January 1948 to December 1951