Royal Military Police

Soldier Details:

Surname: Mitchell

Initials: R.S.

Rank: Lance Corporal

Army No.: 2693073

Notes: CMP. 18 Div Pro Coy. POW. Died 28/8/1948. 26/9/1928 he enlisted in the Scots Guards for 3 years, 15/9/1931 to Army Reserve, 3/1/1940 recalled to CMP. Details of death not known. Born 29/10/1929. Info from Japanese POW card: POW No. 7731, Mitchell, Robert Swan, nationality British, Rank Sergeant, captured Singapore, address: Mrs R S Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, Scotland, occupation Civil Policeman, ate of capture 15/1/1942, No. 2693073, Unit 18 Div Pro Coy, DOB 29/10/1910. Robert Swan Mitchell. No. on Kami Sankuri Camp No1 Roll shown as 2603073. POW No. 7731 new, 4289 old. He is listed on British POW's held in Japan and Japanese Occupied Territory: 35085, Michell, Robert Swan, Sgt, 2693073, Army, captured 15/2/1942, liberated 2/9/1945, camp MA, Malaya. He is listed on POW's transferred overland with "F" Force, 4/1943: 1/4289, Mitchell R S, 2693073, Sgt, 18 Div Provost. He is listed on Malaya POW Camp Roll, 1/11/1944: Mitchell, Robert Swan, Army, Sgt, new POW No. 7731, old POW No. i/4289, 2693073. He is listed on a nominal roll taken at Changi Goal POW Camp 5/9/1945. He is listed on Nominal Roll of train No. 7: 1/4289, Mitchell, R S, 2693073, Sgt, 18 Div Pro. Casualty List 793, Malaya, missing, 15/2/1942. Casualty List 1148, Malaya, previously reported Missing now reported POW, previous List 793, 15/2/1942. Casualty List 1926, Malaya, previously POW not now POW, former list 1148, Malaya. Robert Swan Mitchell. Extract from the Falkirk Herald, 22/5/1943. PRISONER OF WAR. Mrs Dinah Grant Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, has been officially notified that her husband Sergt. Robert Swan Mitchell, CMP, (Military Police), who has been missing since the fall of Singapore is a prisoner of war of War in Japanese hands. Sergt. Mitchell who is 30 years of age, was a Scots Guards Reservist and was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of hostilities when he was in the mobile section of the Aberdeen City Police. He was transferred to the Military Police, and was in France with the British Forces in 1939. After escaping from Dunkirk, the Sergeant had a spell of service at home, and was sent to the Far East in November 12941. Sergt. Mitchell's wife is a daughter of First Police Reserve Charles Grant, Falkirk, formerly of Bonnybridge. Extract from the Falkirk Herald, 29/9/45. SAFE IN ALLIED HANDS. More News of Liberated Prisoners of War. Mrs Dinah Grant Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, daughter of First Police Reserve Charles Grant, Falkirk, formerly Bonnybridge has received a cable and two letters from her husband Sergeant Robert Swan Mitchell, Scots Guards, CMP, Military Police, stating that he is safe in Allied hands, and is meantime in Singapore. Sergeant Mitchell who is 34 years of age, was captured by the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942. In one of his letters he states that he has not tasted bread from the time he was captured until the beginning of the present month. Being a Scots Guards Reservist Sergt. Mitchell was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of war when he was with the mobile section of the Aberdeen City Police. He was transferred to the Military Police and was in France with the British Forces in 1939. After escaping from Dunkirk on the fall of France, the sergeant had a spell of service at home, and was sent to the Far East in November 1941. He was officially reported missing in May 1942 and the first news from him was a post card two month ago. Extract from the Aberdeen Press & Journal. 6/1/1947. GOOD WORK IN SINGAPORE. Sergeant Robert Swan Mitchell, Corps of Military Police, who left Aberdeen City Police in 1939 to rejoin the Scots Guards, has been mentioned in dispatches for meritorious conduct in the face of the enemy during the siege at Singapore. He is now residing at 1 orchard Road. Aberdeen. Taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942, he was set to work on the "Death Railway" in the Thailand jungle, where he attended sick comrades during hours when he might have been asleep. He conveyed home many last messages to next-of-kin of his comrades. Sgt Mitchell is the younger son of the late Mr Thomas Mitchell, Lanarkshire Constabulary, Before joining Aberdeen City Police he was a member of the Midlothian Constabulary.

Decorations/Medals/Awards (1)

1. Decoration: Mention in Despatches

Gazette Date: 1946-08-01

Gazette Issue: 37671

Gazette Page: 3921

Citation: POW. For Gallant & Distinguished service in Malaya, 1942. Corps of Military Police. 2693073 Sgt R S Mitchell.

POW Details:

Camp:	KAMI SANKURI CAMP NO1 THAILAND
Notes:

Casualty Details:

Date Killed:	28th August 1948
Company:	18 DIV PRO COY
Cemetery:	UNKNOWN UNITED KINGDOM
CWGC Search:

Grave Photograph:

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Surname:	Mitchell
Initials:	R.S.
Rank:	Lance Corporal
Army No.:	2693073
Notes:	CMP. 18 Div Pro Coy. POW. Died 28/8/1948. 26/9/1928 he enlisted in the Scots Guards for 3 years, 15/9/1931 to Army Reserve, 3/1/1940 recalled to CMP. Details of death not known. Born 29/10/1929. Info from Japanese POW card: POW No. 7731, Mitchell, Robert Swan, nationality British, Rank Sergeant, captured Singapore, address: Mrs R S Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, Scotland, occupation Civil Policeman, ate of capture 15/1/1942, No. 2693073, Unit 18 Div Pro Coy, DOB 29/10/1910. Robert Swan Mitchell. No. on Kami Sankuri Camp No1 Roll shown as 2603073. POW No. 7731 new, 4289 old. He is listed on British POW's held in Japan and Japanese Occupied Territory: 35085, Michell, Robert Swan, Sgt, 2693073, Army, captured 15/2/1942, liberated 2/9/1945, camp MA, Malaya. He is listed on POW's transferred overland with "F" Force, 4/1943: 1/4289, Mitchell R S, 2693073, Sgt, 18 Div Provost. He is listed on Malaya POW Camp Roll, 1/11/1944: Mitchell, Robert Swan, Army, Sgt, new POW No. 7731, old POW No. i/4289, 2693073. He is listed on a nominal roll taken at Changi Goal POW Camp 5/9/1945. He is listed on Nominal Roll of train No. 7: 1/4289, Mitchell, R S, 2693073, Sgt, 18 Div Pro. Casualty List 793, Malaya, missing, 15/2/1942. Casualty List 1148, Malaya, previously reported Missing now reported POW, previous List 793, 15/2/1942. Casualty List 1926, Malaya, previously POW not now POW, former list 1148, Malaya. Robert Swan Mitchell. Extract from the Falkirk Herald, 22/5/1943. PRISONER OF WAR. Mrs Dinah Grant Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, has been officially notified that her husband Sergt. Robert Swan Mitchell, CMP, (Military Police), who has been missing since the fall of Singapore is a prisoner of war of War in Japanese hands. Sergt. Mitchell who is 30 years of age, was a Scots Guards Reservist and was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of hostilities when he was in the mobile section of the Aberdeen City Police. He was transferred to the Military Police, and was in France with the British Forces in 1939. After escaping from Dunkirk, the Sergeant had a spell of service at home, and was sent to the Far East in November 12941. Sergt. Mitchell's wife is a daughter of First Police Reserve Charles Grant, Falkirk, formerly of Bonnybridge. Extract from the Falkirk Herald, 29/9/45. SAFE IN ALLIED HANDS. More News of Liberated Prisoners of War. Mrs Dinah Grant Mitchell, 32 Watson Street, Falkirk, daughter of First Police Reserve Charles Grant, Falkirk, formerly Bonnybridge has received a cable and two letters from her husband Sergeant Robert Swan Mitchell, Scots Guards, CMP, Military Police, stating that he is safe in Allied hands, and is meantime in Singapore. Sergeant Mitchell who is 34 years of age, was captured by the Japanese at Singapore in February 1942. In one of his letters he states that he has not tasted bread from the time he was captured until the beginning of the present month. Being a Scots Guards Reservist Sergt. Mitchell was recalled to the colours at the outbreak of war when he was with the mobile section of the Aberdeen City Police. He was transferred to the Military Police and was in France with the British Forces in 1939. After escaping from Dunkirk on the fall of France, the sergeant had a spell of service at home, and was sent to the Far East in November 1941. He was officially reported missing in May 1942 and the first news from him was a post card two month ago. Extract from the Aberdeen Press & Journal. 6/1/1947. GOOD WORK IN SINGAPORE. Sergeant Robert Swan Mitchell, Corps of Military Police, who left Aberdeen City Police in 1939 to rejoin the Scots Guards, has been mentioned in dispatches for meritorious conduct in the face of the enemy during the siege at Singapore. He is now residing at 1 orchard Road. Aberdeen. Taken prisoner by the Japanese in 1942, he was set to work on the "Death Railway" in the Thailand jungle, where he attended sick comrades during hours when he might have been asleep. He conveyed home many last messages to next-of-kin of his comrades. Sgt Mitchell is the younger son of the late Mr Thomas Mitchell, Lanarkshire Constabulary, Before joining Aberdeen City Police he was a member of the Midlothian Constabulary.