Lives in Cricket No 34 - Frank Mitchell

106 World War I Liverpool to Lagos, Nigeria. His occupation on the passenger list was given as ‘stockbroker’ but whether he sailed then on government or personal business interests remains to be ascertained. An active involvement in the emerging mining industry in Nigeria was to follow over the next decade. Whatever the reason for that journey in 1917, his previous active contribution within the armed forces over a period of three years was a duty that he had taken on as a volunteer, and he had truly given service to his country. Pelham Warner, writing in The Cricketer when Frank Mitchell was still alive, stated that Mitchell had a Mention in Despatches. Later obituary writers made the same assertion, but may just have been following Warner. Though the London Gazette, which lists military honours, has not confirmed a Mention for Mitchell, such a distinction would have been well deserved.