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Hi I am desparately trying to find information on my late father Walter John Keir Mitchell 1924. Mother Elizabeth Keir Father John Mitchell. All from Scotland. My father served in the Royal Signals WWII he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the oak leaf medal. Since his death I have been told he served on Operation Market Garden in Monte Casino. He was also involved in the d day landings. He went to Heriots high school. was married to Elizabeth Paton 1937.My father was a very quiet man and never really spoke of his war days and unfortunately he died suddenly in 2001 and along with him took all his stories. Could you please lead me in the right direction of finding anything out about his war days or anything about his family. Thank you.

Marriage of parents possibly:

1920 MITCHELL JOHN to KEIR ELIZABETH ANN
SEAFIELD /BANFF 167/00 0002

On Scotlands People You can open the certificate online if you register and pay for credits, cost £6 for 5 certificates


1901 census on Ancestry:

Name: Elizabeth A Keir
Age: 7
Estimated birth year: abt 1894
Relationship: Daughter
Father's name: Walter Keir
Mother's name: Jeme Keir
Gender: Female
Where born: Banff, Cullen
Registration Number: 167
Registration district: Seafield
Civil Parish: Rathven
County: Banffshire
Address: Slack Villa
Occupation: Scholar
ED: 3
Household schedule number: 5
Line: 6
Roll: CSSCT1901_50
Household Members:
Name Age
Walter Keir 39
Jeme Keir 36
Walter Keir 13
John Keir 11
Maggie J Keir 10
Elizabeth A Keir 7
Jessie H Keir 5
Georgine M Keir 3 MO

Too many John Mitchell's to know which is the correct one.

WW2 Service Records are not openly published that I know of., but you may be able to get information if you know his service number. However , I would suggest that you now change your heading to 'WW2 information required' or something similar. There may be people on here who may be able to help.

Catherine

I must put right one part of the info you have been given.

Operation Market Garden was the ill-fated Arnhem op in Sept 1944 (A Bridge Too Far)...........not Monte Cassino, which was earlier in the year

If he was a Captain you should be able to find details of his commission on the London Gazette site.

You might find details of his MID on this site

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/wo373.asp?WT.hp=Recommendations%20for%20Honours%20and%20Awards

Hi thank you so much for all your help, there was a death in my family that is why i have not been on this site for a wee while.

His family were from Banf in Cullen. My dad lived in Stenhouse Drive Edinburgh when a young boy to a grown man. The operation garden and Monte Casino difference is very interesting. Any other info that could help would be greatly appreciated. thank you pamela

How about the info given already?

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search

search for the "exact phrase"

walter john keir mitchell

-- you don't need to enter dates.

There are two results. This may take you to them:

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/exact=walter+john+keir+mitchell/start=1

They are dated 1946 and 1950.

This is one

http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/37764/supplements/5194

and I'll help out a bit if you aren't familiar -- you have to change the 5194 to 5193 (or click to go back a page) and see what the list at the top of the page is.

"The undermentioned cadets' to be 2nd Lts., 18th
Sept. 1946:—"

The 1950 one relates to his commission as Lieutenant in 1949 in the Royal Corps of Signals:

"Lt. Walter John Keir MITCHELL (372358) from
Emerg. Commn. to be Lt., 12th Dec. 1949, with
seniority 12th Jan. 1948."

I did a search and found your thread, Pamela!

Pamela has sent a nice PM of thanks.

If you do it by adding to the thread, it saves having to send everybody messages separately ... and saves us remembering what's what. ;)

Hi I hope this is what u wanted me to do. thanks Pamela

Yup, I just got here first. ;)

And of course you're very welcome!

http://www.genesreunited.co.uk/boards/board/military_chat/thread/1336758

You probably know this already.

Reference No.:
NM242447
Surname:
MITCHELL
Forename(s):
ELIZABETH ANN
Maiden Name:
KEIR

Father's Name:
WALTER KEIR SLACK VILLA PORTKNOCKIE

Marriage Details
Spouse's Name:
JOHN MITCHELL
Date of Marriage:
03 SEP 1920
Place of Marriage:
SEAFIELD HALL PORTKNOCKIE




Reference No.:
NM093158
Surname:
KEIR
Forename(s):
WALTER

Date of Birth:
c. 1860

Marriage Details
Spouse's Name:
JANE MCLEOD
Date of Marriage:

Marriage Narrative:
PARENTS OF MARGARET KEIR

Death Details
Date of Death:
20 FEB 1942
Age:
82
Headstone Ref:
H211
Place of Death:
GLENBARRY PORTKNOCKIE



Reference No.:
NM093053
Surname:
KEIR
Forename(s):
JANE
Maiden Name:
MCLEOD

Date of Birth:
c. 1863

Marriage Details
Spouse's Name:
WALTER KEIR PORTKNOCKIE

Marriage Narrative:
PARENTS OF MAGGIE KEIR

Death Details
Date of Death:
20 MAR 1963
Age:
100
Headstone Ref:
H211

Whoops just noticed it's an old thread. :-D

Thank you all for helping then and this time also been a terrible few yes and has gave me something to focus on :-D

Pamela,

You might find the following links interesting to gain some background info....

http://www.wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/royalsignals.php

http://www.forcesreunited.org.uk/join_free.asp?SE=go&KW=Royal_Signals&cmp=3318&AdGp=A357&UiD=0&Uname=Royal_Signals&INS=Royal_Signals&gclid=CITG6djsprwCFSn4wgodlBoAQA

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=Royal+Signals+at+Monte+Cassino&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=Wr_qUs-0EO-V7AaOuYGYDA&ved=0CHIQsAQ&biw=1138&bih=596

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/71/a5313971.shtml

http://www.veterans-uk.info/pdfs/publications/comm_booklets/monte_cassino.pdf

Thank you so much for those links. Pamela :-D

Hi Pamela, Your Grandmother and my Grandfather were brother and sister.
My Grandfather was William MacDonald Keir born 06/09/1885, son of Walter and Jane Keir of Slack Villa, Portknockie, Banffshire.
I'm only just starting at this but happy to give you the info I have on your Great Uncle.

Barry - It does look as though you might be in luck as Pamela seems to be still around but she may not be keeping an eye on this thread after all this time.

You would be best to click on her name and send her a personal message which, if she still has the same e-mail address, will alert her to the fact that you are trying to contact her.

Best of luck,

Dea x

Hi Barry I have not been on this thread for a while I don't know much about my dad side but I remember him talking about uncle Willie who must have been yourgrandfather. When I was younger I used to get taken to slac villa alot. So who are your parents? My dad was Walter john Keir Mitchell and my is Elizabeth Paton did u find my tree to click on? Pamela