Previous Lot Next Lot

Auction: 341 - The Numismatic Collector's Series Sale
Lot: 1063

'He played a great part in the life of Canada as an Engineer, as a soldier in the important department of intelligence and as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in the University of Toronto.
During his 20 years' service as Dean he won the friendship of his students, for he was a singularly lovable man with a genius for making friends.
I had hoped that when he laid down his University duties, he would have many years of public service, but there is a completeness about his life that he should die thus, for he was a University man'
Dr H. J. Cody, President of the University of Toronto, on the passing of Mitchell
The highly impressive C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O. group of thirteen along with respective Miniatures awarded to Brigadier-General C. H. Mitchell, Canadian Divisional Headquarters, late Ontario Regiment and Canadian Militia, a long-serving and prominent Engineer who gave valuable service- in both the Military and Civil fields- to Canadian society as a whole
With his hydro-electrical engineering post interrupted with the onset of the Great War, Mitchell rose to become the most senior Intelligence Officer of the entire Canadian Expeditionary Force; he served in both France and Italy- earning a host of laurels along the way
Returned to civilian life and soon appointed Dean of Engineering at the University of Toronto- a post he held until shortly before his death- he grew the faculty and entertained his students; the class of 1923 found themselves gifted an 18-inch shell case from the Italian campaign
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, C.B., Companion's Military Division neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George, C.M.G., Companion's neck Badge, silver-gilt and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel; 1914-15 Star (Lt: Col: G. H. Mitchell. 1/Can: Div: H.Q.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves; Coronation 1937; Colonial Auxiliary Officers' Decoration, G.V.R., silver-gilt and silver, with top riband bar, the reverse engraved 'Lt. Col. G. H. Mitchell O.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. Corps of Guides'; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette upon riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette upon riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown of Italy, Officer's breast Badge, gold and enamel, with rosette upon riband, centres missing; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, with Palme upon riband; Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, mounted court-style as worn by J. R. Gaunt & Son, 60 Conduit Street, generally very fine or better (13)


Miniatures: The Most Honourable Order of the Bath, Badge, gold and enamel; The Most Distinguished Order of St. Michael & St. George, Badge, gold and enamel; Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., gold and enamel; 1914-15 Star; British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. Oak Leaves; Coronation 1937; Colonial Auxiliary Officers' Decoration, G.V.R., silver-gilt and silver, with top riband bar; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Officer´s breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette upon riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Order of Leopold, Military Division Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette upon riband; Italy, Kingdom, Order of the Crown of Italy, Officer's breast Badge, silver-gilt and enamel, with rosette upon riband; Belgium, Kingdom, Croix de Guerre, with Palme upon riband; Italy, Kingdom, War Cross, mounted court-style as worn by J. R. Gaunt & Son, 60 Conduit Street, generally very fine or better (13)

C.B. London Gazette 3 June 1918 (Central Ontario Regiment)
C.M.G. London Gazette 4 June 1917 (Canadian Headquarters)
D.S.O. London Gazette 3 June 1916 (Canadian Forces)
Belgium, Order of Leopold London Gazette 26 July 1917
Belgium, Croix de Guerre London Gazette 11 March 1918
France, Legion of Honour London Gazette 30 March 1916
Italy, Order of the Crown London Gazette 12 September 1918
Italy, War Cross London Gazette 21 August 1919

Charles Hamilton Mitchell was born in February 1872 at Petrolia, Ontario, the son of Reverend G. A. Mitchell. Studying Civil Engineering at the University of Toronto, he qualified in 1898 and soon took up employment as Assistant City Engineer at Niagara Falls. His pre-War work focussed around the field of hydraulic and hydro-electric projects, consulting the Canadian Government on numerous projects. Between 1901-13 he had also served on the Senate of the University of Toronto.
Soldier
Having served with the Militia since 1899, Mitchell soon found himself appointed to the General Staff with the 1st Canadian Division. With the foundation of the 2nd Division in August 1915, he was appointed as the Senior Intelligence Officer for the entire Canadian Expeditionary Force.
Promoted Colonel and Head of the Intelligence Branch of the Second Army in September 1916, Mitchell saw varied service on the Western and Italian Fronts. By October 1918 he was appointed Brigadier General and posted as Senior Intelligence Officer to the War Office in London. It is no surprise that he was showered with laurels for this exceptional service, besides being mentioned on no less than seven occasions. The meticulous and detailed diaries which accompany the Lot offer a unique insight, from which the following extracts are drawn;
'21 April 1915
'Fine day. Bright and warm. Sketching of Ypres steadily continuing & increasing in intensity. Our attack and the fighting at Hill 60 renewed again last night, going on today and again tonight… I was sent into Ypres to reconnoitre a Sally Port (East Side) for the 1st Bde. in case they are wanted to help at Hill 60.'

26 August 1915
'At 10-1 out to Hydrangea Cottage… finishing my sketch of the German positions "Hill 33" at Messines. In afternoon in office on miscellaneous office work & getting out correspondence.'

27 September 1916
'Busy this morning with reports from prisoners and information being gathered about our attack of yesterday and the attitude and dispositions of Boche. He is hanging on stubbornly at Thiepval but II Corps II Division are steadily driving him back.'

5 November 1916
'I put in whole day study on the scheme for coordination of intelligence, Artillery & R.F.C. and got it down on paper & typed in the long schedule late at night.'

6 November 1916
'In morning early to office and busy & at 10 went to Army Commanders' conference. My situation report was accompanied by schedule re. showing enemy activity & then at [the] end my study re. co-ordination of I., Art. & R.F.C. was put in.'

2 December 1916
'Maps in from Corps showing occupation of enemy's position resulting from my study of a week ago - we will now make an exhaustive study.'
5 June 1917
'Busy in office all day… went for a walk out in the afternoon. The Belgian Mission at our G.H.Q. came and [informed] me that the King of the Belgians had bestowed upon me the Order of Leopold. I am very proud - it was a great surprise and having been in Belgium so long I appreciated it all the more coming direct from the King.'

5 January 1918
'Padua. Conference as usual - discussed R.F.C. arrangements for bombing Italian towns & stations in Austrian occupation.'

9 April 1918
'All day in office getting through a lot of details… and arrangements for [the] offensive. Morning mainly at study of general situation on Italian front & came to conclusion that [the] Austrian attack - though once thought & reported to be fixed for tomorrow - will not take place for a while yet.'

10 July 1918
'News is interesting from Russia as events seem to be happening in Siberia while the Italian theatre is quietened down.''



Dean of Engineering
With the conclusion of the Great War, Mitchell was once again able to resume his university career. From 1913-19 he had served on the Board of Governors and with the passing of the former Dean, Mitchell was an ideal candidate and was appointed Dean of Applied Science. His time on the Front allied Mitchell with the students, half of whom could themselves be counted as veterans. Shards of glass from Flanders would be installed into the windows of Hart House Chapel and the class of 1923 found themselves presented with an eighteen-inch shell case from his time in Italy. His time is exceptionally well-regarded, with his tenure being attributed to the overall success and growth of the Department under his leadership.
Journey's End
Besides becoming Dean, Mitchell took up a plethora of public appointments including becoming President of the Engineer's Association, the Toronto Board of Trade and the Empire Club of Canada. He published a number of books on hydro-electric technology and was a keen golfer and mountaineer.
Retired in early 1941, he passed away on 26 August 1941 and is buried with his wife in Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Toronto.
Sold together with a most complete and highly interesting archive comprising;

a.) Mention in Dispatches certificates (7), each with envelope of issue and four with accompanying letters of confirmation. Dated 30 November 1915 (Field Marshal Sir John French), 30 April 1916 (General Sir Douglas Haig), 9 April 1917 (Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig), 7 November 1917 (Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig), 18 April 1918 (General Sir H. C. O. Plumer), 16 October 1918 (General F. R., Earl of Cavan), 18 January 1919 (General F. R., Earl of Cavan)

b.) Commissioning documents (2), dated 10 March 1900, appointing Mitchell a 2nd Lieutenant in the Canadian Militia and September 1914, appointing Mitchell an 'Officer in our Land Forces'.

c.) Bestowal document for the Order of Leopold, 6 August 1917, together with confirmation letter.

d.) Bestowal document for the Belgian Croix de Guerre, 15 February 1918, with an accompanying telegram sent from G.H.Q. Italy, 11 July 1918, and a further telegram to the Military Secretary, Foreign Decoration Section (War Office).

e.) Bestowal document for the Italian Cross of War Merit, dated 23 November 1918, with an accompanying letter of confirmation.

f.) Bestowal document for the Order of the Crown of Italy (2), dated 20 April 1918 and 15 December 1921, with related telegram sent from Ottawa, 3 November 1922.

g.) Bestowal document for the Order of St. Michael and St. George, dated 27 May 1919; Bestowal document granting the 'dignity' of Companion of the Order of the Bath

h.) Issuance Certificates (2) for Mitchell's 1914-15 Star and British War Medal together with War Office letter confirming Mitchell's entitlement to an M.I.D. oak leaf emblem on the riband of his Victory Medal.

i.) Service Record (2) compiled by G.H.Q. Italy on 1 July 1918, outlining Mitchell's service and entitlements to honours and awards (comprising the original plus a copy).

j.) Menu for a Banquet given in Mitchell's honour by the Montreal Branch of the Engineering Institute of Canada in June 1919; includes full guest list and table plan.

k.) Photographs of Mitchell (5), four of them taken during his service with G.H.Q. Italy and a fifth showing him in old age, working at home in his study.

l.) Various cuttings from The Times (2) and The London Gazette (2), listing Mentions in Despatches in which Mitchell's name appears; a cutting from the Toronto Weekly (24 May 1919) celebrating Mitchell's astonishing war record; an obituary of Mrs. James Mitchell, revealing the Mitchell family's allegiance to Britain during the American War of Independence and subsequent escape to Canada; an obituary of C. H. Mitchell.

m.) An enthralling and historically important set of 11 leather-bound pocket diaries kept by Mitchell between 1912 and 1936 - one diary for each year of the Great War - containing a wealth of information on his role during the attack on Messines Ridge, the Somme Offensive, and in the Italian Theatre; five diaries are locked, with accompanying keys.

Sold for
$18,000