| Robert Mitchell was a son of John and Nancy Mitchell. John Mitchell married Nancy Cairns on 19th October 1889 in the district of Cookstown.
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| Robert Mitchell was born on 2nd June 1901 in Tamlaght, County Tyrone. He was one of ten children.
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| The 1901 census does not list Robert. The family lived at house 14 in Great Georges Street, Coagh. His father was a carter.
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| Known family: John Mitchell, Nancy Mitchell, John Mitchell (born about 1886), James Mitchell (born 7th October 1890), Eliza Lizzie Mitchell (born 2nd November 1892), Isabella Mitchell (born 13th May 1894), Joseph Mitchell (born about 1895), Frederick Mitchell (born 27th March 1897), Annie Mitchell (born 21st August 1898, tbc), Robert Mitchell (born 2nd June 1901), Charles Mitchell (born 1st November 1904), Samuel Mitchell (born 15th September 1906).
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| The 1911 census lists Robert as age 11, living with the family at house 23 in Great Georges Street, Coagh. He was still at school. His father was now working as a farm servant.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 9th March 1918: Coagh
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| Two more boys from Coagh, Mr Fred Sands and Mr Bobby Mitchell, have joined the Inniskillings. This is the fifth son of Mr John Mitchell which has joined the colours, and the third son of Mr Sands.
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| The only information we have on Robert is that a younger brother of Joseph Mitchell, M.M., Bobbie Mitchell, was in training on Salisbury Plain in June 1918.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 15th June 1918: 19315 Sergeant Joseph Mitchell M.M.
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| Sergeant Joseph Mitchell M.M., 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, third son of Mr John Mitchell, Coagh. He has been awarded the military medal for bravery in the field. He joined up almost three ago, when 19 years of age and has been twice wounded. He is one of a family with a splendid record for patriotism. His elder brother, Private John Mitchell, went out with the first expeditionary force and is still fighting; Private James Mitchell, who has been at the front for over two years, is posted as missing since 27th March. Another brother, Fred Mitchell, was serving but has been discharged invalided; while a younger brother, Bobbie Mitchell, is at present in training on Salisbury Plain.
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| It is not known if Robert ever served at the front.
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| In all, at least five sons of John and Nancy served in the war.
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| World War Two
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 6th July 1940: Coagh – Mitchell Family
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| Privates Johnny and Robert Mitchell, of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (A.M.P.C.), have been home on leave from France last week. Another brother, Charles, while not officially reported missing, has not been heard of for several weeks. Johnny came through the last war without a scratch, while his brother Robert, having been accepted at the close, later saw Service in India. Another brother, James, was killed in the last war.
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| A cousin, Private David Mitchell, is at present home on leave. He had two brothers who made the supreme sacrifice in the last war, which he came through being twice wounded. He was awarded the Military Medal in 1917. Interviewed by our correspondent, he described his miraculous escape from Dunkirk during the evacuation, and some heartrending scenes in Belgium which he saw of people leaving their homes without food or much clothing.
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| From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 14th September 1940: B.E.F. Man’s Lapse (to be confirmed)
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| Robert Mitchell of Urbal, Coagh, was charged by Edward McKee, of Killymuck, with assault and threats on 30th August. Mr Hastings stated that Mitchell was an ex-serviceman. He had one of the first to join up from the district since the outbreak of the present war and came through the withdrawal from France. He was on sick leave and would be going back to his unit again. The defendant said he was very sorry for anything that had happened and was willing to pay the costs. McKee was willing to accept this offer and not press the case further. The case was adjourned for three months, the R.M. remarking that Mitchell had met the thing very candidly
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