Page 95 - All About History - Issue 33-15

All About
YOUR HISTORY

An extract from
Albert’s register
isting the names
nd occupations
of his parents
nd the place and
date of his birth

Albert’s certificate of discharge from
the navy that described his ability
and conduct as ‘very good’

A rare photo of a young
Albert Mitchell aged 25

Life in the Royal Navy was short lived, and six Thelastshiptha IhavearecordofisWildRose.
weeks after joining he was transferred to the Royal Albert sailed on it during World War II, and in 1941,
Naval Reserve (RNR). In that same month Albert on a voyage from Dublin to Cardiff, the Wild Rose
married Zillah Isobel Jones. He was 20 years old was attacked by German aircraft. It received severe
and Zillah gave her age as 19. She was in fact only bomb damage and was beached. After temporary
16. The next record of Albert shows that he made repairs were made, the ship was towed to Dublin
two trips on Imperator, a passenger liner believed where permanent maintenance was carried out
to have been taken from the Germans after World and it returned to service. Albert was discharged
War I. It became the flagship of the Cunard Line from duty on 2 April 1940.
and was rechristened Berengaria. It was one of the The family have no records or recollection of
most popular liners of her time but was scrapped Albert Mitchell having gained any war medals.
in 1938 after the introduction of Queen Mary Neither is it known if he ever returned to Jersey.
and Queen Elizabeth two years earlier. After a Albert is described by older family members as
succession of ships, there seems to be quite a gap being a quiet man who rarely spoke about where
between SS Innisholm in 1925 and his next voyage he originated from or his time in the navy. Albert
on 21 January 1939. Later that year, Britain and and Zillah lived for many years in Sussex until
France declared war on Germany. Albert died in 1963, with Zillah passing in 1969. This stone in Portslade
Cemetery is Albert and his
wife Zillah’s final resting place
Do you have any family stories to share? /AllAboutHistory @AboutHistoryMag

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