James Duncan Mitchell was born in Dundee, Forfarshire, Scotland, on the 25th March 1892, the son of George Clark and Margaret Duncan Mitchell (née Summers) of Wormit, Dundee, Angus, Scotland. His father was a Jute merchant, and James was an only child.
He was educated at The Harris Academy, Dundee and was a regular worshipper at Tay Square United Free Church. No doubt following his father’s calling, he became a merchant and having moved to England with his parents, they set up together, Messrs. G.C. Mitchell Ltd., in Manchester, Lancashire, dealing in textiles. He was the company secretary. The family home was at 15, Broadway, Withington, Manchester.
In early 1915, James Mitchell embarked upon a five month business trip to Canada and the United States of America and at the end of April, having concluded business with The Adam Express Company of New York; he decided to make his return journey to Liverpool with The Cunard Steam Ship Company.
He originally booked passage on the S.S. Cameronia, but at the end of April 1915, the Admiralty requisitioned her for war use as a troopship and on 1st May 1915, her passengers and some of her crew members were transferred to the Lusitania.
Consequently, with ticket number 11956, James Mitchell was allocated saloon room E53, which was under the personal supervision of First Class Bedroom Steward Vincent Settle, who came from Anfield in Liverpool.
He must have thought that his transfer to a far more luxurious ship was a lucky turn of fate for him, but it proved to be the exact opposite, for when the Lusitania was sunk, six days later, he lost his life. He was aged 23 years. As his body was never recovered and identified afterwards, he has no known grave.
He is, however, commemorated on an honours' list of Great War casualties in The Harris Academy and also in The Western Cemetery, Perth Road, Dundee, which is opposite the school.
This commemoration takes the form of a copper plaque mounted on stone, fixed to one of the walls of the cemetery, and the pertinent inscription states: -
James Duncan Mitchell
25. 3. 1892 - 7. 5. 1915
R.M.S. Lusitania
They Have No Other
Grave Than The Sea
Administration of his estate was granted to his father on 24th August 1915, and his effects amounted to £3,201-2s-6d., (£3,201.12½p.).
Bedroom Steward Settle survived the sinking and eventually made it home to Liverpool.
James Mitchell’s aunt, Miss Agnes Mitchell was a famous authoress of the time, who lived at Westpark Gardens, Dundee. One of her more famous publications was called The People’s Friend.
1901 Census of Scotland, 1911 Census of England & Wales, Canadian passenger Lists 1865 – 1935, U.S. Border Crossings from Canada to U.S. 1895 – 1960, Cunard Records, Fife Scotland School Admissions and Discharges 1867 – 1916, Dundee Advertiser, Evening Telegraph, Probate Records, PRO 22/71, PRO BT 100/345, Graham Maddocks, Dennis Yates, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.