British – Victorian – Baltic Medal – Royal Marine Artillery – HMS Prince Regent - Mitchell

Baltic Medal: 11 Co. W Mitchell. R.M.A. H.M.S. Prence Regent [sic] (Depot impressed)

William Mitchell was born in the Parish of Westbourne in the town of Chichester, Sussex circa 1829. He joined 11 Company, Royal Marines 14 July 1853 at Gosfort, Hampshire. He served as a Private until February 1855 and subsequently as a gunner until 21 July 1874.
He served in HMS Prince Regent from 7 March 1854 having been transferred from HMS Neptune. HMS Prince Regent joined the fleet off Gotland in May and continued to serve in the Baltic theatre until November. For this service, Mitchell was awarded his Baltic Medal  which was sent to Depot on 12 February 1858.

Mitchell served ashore between January and July 1855, and was under the command of General Sir George Brown as part of the ground forces during the Kertch Expedition which ended on 25 May 1855. 
He then served in HMS Royal Albert July 1855 – August 1858, participating in the Capture of Sebastopol (September 1855) and bombardment of Kinburn (October 1855). For this service he was awarded the Crimea Medal with clasp ‘Sebastopol’ and the Turkish Crimea Medal.

Mitchell served in various other ships and shore establishments over the next several years. In January 1867 he joined HMS Vigilant, part of the East Indies Station, which captured an Arab slaving dhow off East Africa in July 1868. For his service Mitchell was additionally awarded the Abyssinia Medal which was sent to him in June 1870.
In October 1870 he joined HMS Rattlesnake which saw some interesting service during this period off the western coast of Africa during the Ashanti disturbances.
Mitchell was finally discharged at Portsmouth 21 July 1874.

Sold with an extensive file of photocopied research with much additional detail regarding his life and RMA service.