Ordinary Seaman Thomas Mitchell

Ordinary Seaman Thomas James Tait Mitchell, Royal Navy. He died on 11th November 1918 after service aboard H.M.S. “Dido” and is buried in Selkirk Cemetery. He was the son of Thomas and Agnes Mitchell of 13 Hill Street, Selkirk and is buried in Selkirk Cemetery. He had enlisted in May 1917 giving his age as 18 and spent a year aboard the destroyer H.M.S. “Skilful” before being posed to the ” Dido. Records show the cause of death as ” Axphixia due to the effects of drink”. ( over celebrating the Armistice perhaps ).The “Dido” was an Eclipse class second class protected cruiser of 5,600 tons and was completed in 1898 at the London & Glasgow Yard in Govan, Glasgow. She was the only ship of her Class not to see Active War service being used as a depot ship at Harwich for a cruiser squadron.