Military General Service Medal , 8 clasps, Roleia, Vimiera, Vittoria, Pyrenees, Nivelle, Nive, Orthes, Toulouse
J Mitchell Bugle Major 95th Foot
A unique combination of clasps to any unit and a unique rank (appointment) to the British Amy (one also to the KGL)
With copy discharge papers and other research inc. Muster search
James Mitchell was born in St Mary’s Tipperary in 1786 and attested for the 95th in May 1803 a Labourer and volunteer from the Tipperary Militia. Mitchell served with the 2nd Battalion a total of 15 years 261 days (plus 2 years for Waterloo), being a Private for 7 years and Sergeant for 8 years, being discharged at Dublin on 24thJanuary 1819
He served throughout the Peninsular war and at the battle of Waterloo in Captain J Jenkins Company. The Regimental Musters record that he arrived with his Battalion in Europe in March 1815 and returned to England in October 1818. Taking his discharge from the Army in January, 1819 Mitchell was clearly maladjusted to civilian life he attested that July for the 23rd Regiment of Foot as a Private on 17th July 1819 at Limerick serving 322 days as a Private soldier and 1 year 72 days as Corporal taking final discharge in August 1821 at Dublin ‘on reduction of the Establishment and being severely wounded in both legs at the battle of Kyogue (Koge), Denmark on 29th August 1807’.
He had been admitted as a Kilmainham Hospital out pensioner on 6th February 1819 at the rate of 1sh/ 10p
The Battle of Køge was a battle on 29th August 1807 between British troops besieging Copenhagen and Danish Militia raised on Sjælland. It ended in British victory and is also known as ‘Træskoslaget’ or ‘the Clogs Battle’, since many of the Danish Militiamen threw their heavy wooden clogs away when they were fleeing. The British government feared the Danish fleet was about to fall into French hands and thus delivered Denmark–Norway an ultimatum to sail its fleet to Britain or face war with Britain. The Danish government refused so British troops landed at Vedbæk on 16th August and began an investment on Copenhagen. Joachim Castenschiold was ordered to create a Frikorps and lift the investment. Castenschiold’s forces concentrated themselves around Roskilde and Lejre, while general Oxholm was sent south to activate the Søndre Sjællandske Landeværnsregiment. Castenschiold arrived at Køge on 26th August and two days later he was joined by Oxholm and his force. This gave Castenschiold a grand total of around 7,000 militiamen, 600 cavalry and 13 cannon. In the meantime the British headquarters at Copenhagen had become aware of the Danish militia’s mobilisation and on 27 August general Arthur Wellesley (later 1st Duke of Wellington) was ordered to locate and defeat it.
Wellesley’s 6,000-man Anglo-German infantry force included the 1st Battalion of the 43rd Foot, the 2nd Battalion of the 52nd Foot, the 1st Battalion of the 92nd Foot, five companies from the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 95th Foot, and the 6th Line Battalion King’s German Legion. Three squadrons each of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd King’s German Legion Hussar Regiments totaled 1,620 cavalrymen. The eight 6-pound cannons and two 5.5-inch howitzers were served by Newhouse’s battery of the Royal Horse Artillery and Sympher’s half-battery of the King’s German Legion. Colonel Wilhelm von Linsingen was Wellesley’s Brigade commander. Castenschiold’s force was made up of 7,000 infantry in 11 battalions, 150 cavalry in two squadrons, and 120 artillerists serving nine guns. The foot soldiers were organized into the 5th, 6th and 7th Battalions of the North Zealand Landværn, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th Battalions of the South Zealand Landværn. There were 70 horsemen from the Zealand Cavalry Regiment and 80 mounted troops from the Landværn Cavalry. On 7th September 1807, the Danes surrendered both the city and the fleet to the British. Many of the Danish ships were later added to the Royal Navy’s strength. This attack on a neutral country was heavily criticised internationally. But it succeeded in helping secure the North Sea and Baltic Sea for British Naval and merchant ships. Britain and Denmark remained at war for seven more years. Although there were several small naval clashes, there were no further land battles between the two nations. The Treaty of Kiel (1814) formally ended hostilities.
James Mitchell emigrated to Australia, the excact date unknown, his Military General Service Medal claim was submitted on the Colonial List for the 95th Foot and was made via the Commissioner at The Treasury, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (recorded on the Medal roll) Mitchell died in Sydney on 3rd August 1848.
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