Regimental Number: M4250
Rank: Private
Robert Mitchell, born on March 2, 1926 in Detroit, Michigan was the oldest in John and Hilda Mitchell’s family of five children. The family moved back to Bezanson in 1928. Shortly thereafter, John found employment with the United Grain Growers in Huallen and moved his family there. They moved back to Bezanson in 1937 and purchased Norman Moon’s farm. Robert attended the Bezanson One-Room School where he completed Grade 8 after which, he worked on the family farm and also worked for J. Lowe as a farm labourer in 1942. During 1941 and 1942, Bob worked in a lumber mill operating the edger machine. Bob enjoyed baseball, hockey, hunting, swimming, boxing, dances and movies.
Robert enlisted with the Canadian Army on October 31, 1944 in Calgary. Bob was transferred to Wetaskiwin for basic training followed by Camp Petawawa in Ontario, Canadian Forces Base in Dundurn (Saskatchewan), back to Calgary and Wetaskiwin and on to Edmonton, Lethbridge and North Bay (Ontario), and Halifax where he embarked for the United Kingdom on March 3, 1946 on POW Escort Duty. Private Robert Warren Mitchell served in Canada and the United Kingdom. He was discharged on April 29, 1946 in Calgary and received the War Medal 1939-45.
In 1952, John sold the farm and the entire family moved to St. Albert. Robert found employment as a carpenter and shortly thereafter contracted out his services. He married a lady by the name of Germaine who had a son and a daughter. Bob and Germaine had two boys and one of Bob’s grandsons, Ian Mitchell, is currently (2021) playing hockey in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks.
Robert passed away in 2000 and was buried at the St. Albert Cemetery. Germaine passed away in 2019 and was laid to rest alongside her husband.
Contributed by Wanda Zenner
Sources:
Smoky River to Grande Prairie
Find a Grave
Interview with Grant Moon