Lt Clayton Leroy Mitchell 1-B-7

Clayton was born on Tuesday April 1915 in London Ontario, the son of George Albert and Rhea Jane Mitchell nee Taylor. His brothers were Lloyd (born 1910), sister Enid (born 1911), and Carl (born 1918), Orville John (born 1921), William (born 1925) and Leslie (born 1927).
His mother was already deceased when he went into the army.
He was married on August 18 1944 in London Ontario with Helen Ruth Hadden. His wife was pregnant when Clayton went to Europe and she gave birth to their son called Clayton Leroy in 1945 and he died shortly afterwards  in 1947.
He was a railway employee and member of the Church of England.
He was trained with the National Reserve of the Midddlesex and Huron regiment from 1930-1940.
He enlisted as a volunteer on March 13 1943 the Canadian Army, first in the Perth regiment and he was promoted as a lieutenant on July 17 1943.
He disembarked on January 1945 later the UK  to the North West Europe and was taken on strength on February 22 1945 to the 1st Bn Canadian Scottish Regiment.
He was killed in action on Tuesday April 10 1945 age 30 as the platoon commander of the B coy during the battle of Deventer while crossing a German tank ditch at the area of the asylum ‘de Brinkgreven’.
He was temporarily buried then in Oxe near Deventer before being reburied on December 17 1945 in Holten.
His medals were: 1939-45 Star; France-Germany Star; Defence Medal; War Medal 1939-45; CVSM & Clasp.

Note A plaque was unveiled on April 10 2018 for him  at the area of the asylym in Deventer.