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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 387

Three: Master-At-Arms E. J. Mitchell, Royal Navy, who served aboard H.M.S. Jupiter on her icebreaking mission to Archangel in 1915

1914-15 Star (155333, E. J. Mitchell, M.A.A., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (155333. E. J. Mitchell, M.A.A. R.N.), good very fine (3)

Edward John Mitchell was born at Plymouth, Devon on 16 November 1874, attesting as Boy Class II on 19 April 1890. Appointed Ordinary Seaman upon reaching his majority on 16 November 1892 he was advanced Able Seaman the next year. He served for some time with a number of vessels, reaching Petty Officer in 1896 and later Ship's Corporal in 1900, Mitchell finally reached the rank of Master-At-Arms on 15 October 1908.

He was stationed with the Battleship Jupiter upon the outbreak of the Great War. In January 1915 the Admiralty received a request for assistance from the Russian Government, as their icebreaker used to keep open the passage to Archangel in the White Sea had broken down. In response the Royal Navy sent out H.M.S. Jupiter, an old Majestic-class battleship. She departed for Archangel in February 1915, freeing en-route a number of vessels stuck in the ice, occasionally by using explosive charges. She, too, sometimes became icebound, but still managed to make a major impression on the problem, improving the safe passage of numerous vessels, many of them laden with highly important war materials, among them the S.S. Thracia. The latter was taken in tow after the use of explosive charges to free her. Throughout these operations it was not unusual for the temperature to fall as low as minus 20 degrees, a hard test indeed on the morale and wellbeing of the Jupiter's crew. Her mission completed by May 1915, the Tzar expressed his gratitude by the presentation of a variety of Russian Honours and Awards to her crew.

Mitchell did not remain with the warship but was posted ashore on 19 May 1915, being posted to the Armed Merchant Cruiser Himalaya on 10 November 1915. Serving with her for just a month his final posting afloat was with the City of London from 27 March 1916-23 March 1919, joining the 'New Coast Guard Force' on 15 August 1919. He settled at St. Stephen's Cornwall when he died in 1964; sold together with copied research.

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Sold for
£60

Starting price
£35