Thomas Mitchell

Killed in Action on the 26/09/1915 on the 2nd day of the Battle of Loos

Thomas and the Battalion arrived at Boulogne on the 09/07/1915 and were part of the 45th Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division. The Battle of Loos : 25th of September - 15th of October 1915 : The first genuinely large scale British offensive action but once again only in a supporting role to a larger French attack in the Third Battle of Artois. British appeals that the ground over which they were being called upon to advance was wholly unsuitable were rejected. The battle is historically noteworthy for the first British use of poison gas. The 2nd day of the Battle, 26/09/1915 : At 5.00a.m : Orders are received by the 15th (Scottish) Division. Reinforced by 21st Division, they are to recapture Hill 70 with an attack at 9.00a.m. It was proving virtually impossible to move artillery forward to support this attack, and ammunition supplies were dwindling, fresh ones being held up in traffic. The attack would be supported by artillery firing from their original positions, and the 2nd German line would barely be touched. A bombardment of two rounds per gun per minute was ordered. In confusion, some units did not receive an order to withdraw from the most advanced positions, and British shells fell on their own infantry in places. Many infantry units did not receive orders to attack until 7.00a.m, and in at least one case, 8.00am. At 9.00a.m : The weakened Battalions of 45th Brigade advanced up the slope of Hill 70, just as the mist cleared. They came under immediate fire from the Redoubt at the summit, but parties entered the trenches there and hand to hand fighting took place. After suffering continued losses, and unable to get around the flanks of the Redoubt, the survivors withdrew. At the Hulloch area : 10.30a.m : The German counterattack continues and men of 63rd Brigade retire in disarray from Chalk Pit Wood. The enemy captures Chalet Wood. The 6th Battalion Cameron Highlanders make repeated efforts to recapture it. Thomas was Killed in Action on the 2nd day of the Battle of Loos. He was 1 of 99 men from the Coatbridge Memorial who fell during and from injuries from the Battle of Loos. Scottish Regiments lost a huge amount of brave men at Loos. Here is a list of Infantry Battalions who lost more than 500 men at the Battle of Loos from 25/09/1915 to 16/10/1915 - 7th Cameron Highlanders 687, of which 19 Officers, 9th Black Watch 680, of which 20 Officers, 6th King's Own Scottish Borderers 650, of which 20 Officers, 10th Highland Light Infantry 648, of which 20 Officers, 7th King's Own Scottish Borderers 631, of which 20 Officers, 8th Devons 619, of which 19 Officers, 8th Royal West Kents 580, of which 24 Officers, 8th Buffs 558, of which 24 Officers, 12th Highland Light Infantry 553, of which 23 Officers, 8th Black Watch 511, of which 19 Officers, 5th North Staffordshire 505, of which 20 Officers, 8th Seaforth Highlanders 502, of which 23 Officers. Thomas is also remembered on the East United Free Church (see Newspaper clipping), Gartsherrie Works x 2 and Gartsherrie Churches Rolls of Honour (see photos) and in the St Augustine's Parish (book) Roll of Honour. See photos for Thomas' Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clipping, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Loos Memorial Panel List, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his name on the Loos Memorial, his Service Medal and Award Rolls x 2, his Service Records x 11, the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge and Thomas' Pension Records x 3.