Thank you to Jane Anthony for this research.
Born in 1893, the second surviving son of a very wealthy family. His father; Arthur Maw Mitchison; was a barrister and the family lived in Eaton Place and the Chelsea Embankment, London at various times. His grandmother came from New Zealand where the family also had business interests as well as Australia. William’s grandfather, who he was named after, owned considerable property mostly in London but also countrywide. They had a large estate in the Sunbury area. The London Metropolitan Archive has an index of 32 pages of family business and private transactions.
In 1901 William aged 8, was living at home with his parent in Eaton Square, he had a private tutor, his older brother Gilbert Richard was not there , presumably at boarding school. He could not be traced in 1911 when he was 18, possibly he might have bewen sent to Australia. His brother was educated at Eton and Oxford, and later became an eminent politician in the labour Party. He took the title of Baron Mitchison of Carradale, Argyllshire.
There is no obvious connection to Abinger, however one of the documents in the Mitchison archive refers to correspondence relating to a lease in Abinger for Hon Frank Trevor Roger Bigham, who was formerly a barrister and later became Chief Constable for Criminal Investigation at the Metropolitan Police. He was possibly a family friend as both he and William’s father were barristers and had been at Eton and Oxford. The families also lived close by in London.
He enlisted in the Royal Engineers and served in 19th Division Signal Company. He was killed in action on 20 September 1917 aged 24 and buried at Voormezede. He left an estate of £946 and his father was his executor.
| Lived | Eaton Gate, London | |
| Son of | Arthur Maw and Mary Emeline Mitchison of 10, Eaton Gate, London | |
| Regiment | 19th Division Signal Company. The Royal Engineers | |
| Number | 15887V/2 | |
| Date of Death | 20th September 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Belgium | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in Action | |
| Age | 24 | |
| Cemetery | Voormezeele Enclosures No.1 and No. 2 |
