George Stanley's Story.
Birkenhead News 31 January 1920
A DOUBLE BEREAVEMENT.
Rock Ferry Officer and Mother Dead.
It is with regret that we announce the news of a double bereavement sustained during the past week by a well-known Rock Ferry family. On Sunday morning the death took place, while on leave from India, at 45, Browning Avenue, Highfield, Rock Ferry, of Lieut. George Stanley Mitchelson, aged 29 years, and on Wednesday last, the deceased’s mother, who had attained the age of 54, also passed away.
Lieut. Mitchelson, who was the only surviving son of Mr. George Mitchelson, was educated at St. Luke’s School, Lower Tranmere, and on leaving school at the age of 14 he became an apprentice at Messrs. Cammell Laird’s. However, it was early apparent that the life of a shipyard worker did not appeal to him, and when 17 enlisted as a private in the 1st Batt. South Lancashire Regt. In 1913, when he had been promoted to the rank of corporal, he left the Curragh, Ireland, with his regiment for India. Shortly after arriving in that country he became interested in musketry instruction, and was subsequently appointed sergeant. “Stan” as he was more popularly known among his colleagues both at home and abroad, proved a very efficient musketry instructor, and his sterling merit as such, coupled with all-round ability, received due recognition in 1917, when he was gazetted as second lieutenant. As an officer Lieut. Mitchelson was appointed an instructor at the Central School of Musketry, Pachmahri, C.P., India. He saw much active service in connection with the frontier engagements in India, and as a result of his gallantry during the Afghan rising on the north-west frontier in 1918, he was promoted to Lieutenant.
Owing to the continued indisposition of Mrs. Mitchelson, who had been in failing health for about two years, the deceased officer was granted leave to England, and he arrived at his home on Dec. 16th last. He was taken ill on Jan. 21st, and death took place four days later from double pneumonia. The sad and sudden bereavement had a fatal effect on Mrs. Mitchelson, and as previously stated she gradually sank and died from heart failure, on Wednesday last.
Lieut. Mitchelson was very highly esteemed, and his death, which has cut short a very promising career with the colours, will be deplored not only by his fellow officers and soldiers, but by a large circle of local friends. His popularity with all ranks will be gathered from the following tribute paid to him by a sergeant who served with the deceased in India :- “Lieut. Mitchelson was both an officer and a gentleman, and his untimely death will occasion profound regret throughout all the ‘boys’ out there.”
While in India he joined the masonic craft, and was a member of the Alexandra Lodge 1065.
THE INTERMENT
As befitted his long and honoured Army career, Lieut. Mitchelson was buried at Bebington Cemetery on Wednesday afternoon with full military honours. The coffin, which was draped with the Union Jack, and bore the deceased’s sun hat and sword, was conveyed to the cemetery on a gun carriage. Six sergeants, all members of the 1st Batt. South Lancs Regt., who had served with the deceased in India, acted as bearers. Following the burial service, conducted by the Rev. G. D. White Rector of Wallasey (and formely vicar of St. Luke’s Church, Lower Tranmere, of which Lieut. Mitchelson was a member prior to joining the forces), three volleys were fired over the grave by a firing party comprising 50 members of the 1st Batt. King’s Liverpool Regt., and the “Last Post” was impressively sounded by the bugle band of the same battalion.