My grandfather, Earle Mitchell, was born on February 8, 1920 in Kindersley, Saskatchewan, in the middle of a snowstorm to Nathan and Elfreda Mitchell. His early years were spent first in Saskatchewan, and then in Alberta as the family moved there in 1924. In the late 1930s at the end of the Great Depression the family, including Earle moved to Vancouver Island in British Columbia.
Alberta & British Columbia
Evelyn Tucker & Earle Mitchell, Drayton Valley AB, 1936Earle & Olive Mitchell, Drayton Valley AB, 1936Earle Mitchell on left, blueberry trip, Drayton Valley AB, 1936-37Earle Mitchell (2nd from right standing, Elwin (standing), Howard by Earle, Drayton Valley AB, 1936-37Earle Mitchell, Edmonton AB, 1939Howard, friend, Earle, Norman Mitchell digging clams, Saltair BC, 1939Lucky Star fish trawler, Saltair BC, 1939Earle, Elwin, and Norman Mitchell, early 1940sEarle Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BC, early 1940sEarle Mitchell, 1945Earle & Gerald Mitchell, Elsie Hilliers, 1945Earle, Patricia and Howard Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BCEarle, Patricia and Howard Mitchell, Qualicum Beach BCEarle Mitchell
World War II
With the start of World War II, Earle joined the Royal Canadian Army, first as a member of the 17th Searchlight Battery at Fort Rodd Hill, and then with the 99th Field Battery. Earle underwent basic training in Petawawa, Ontario, before being deployed overseas to the United Kingdom. He was part of the D-Day invasion of Normany and saw action in France and Holland before being seriously wounded on January 20 1945. He eventually recovered in Britain and returned to Canada.
17th Searchlight Battery, Fort Rod Hill, September 1941 (Earle Mitchell fifth from left, 4th row from front)99th Field Battery, Royal Canadian Army (Earle Mitchell far right, fifth row from front)Howard & Earle Mitchell, Beacon Hill Park BC, 1941Earle & Gerald Mitchell, John Simms, Beacon Hill Park BC, 1941Earle, Elfreda, and Howard Mitchell, Saltair BC, 1941Earle Mitchell and friends, 1942Earle Mitchell and friends, 1942Earle Mitchell, Victoria BC, 1942Norman & Earle Mitchell, Victoria BC, 1940sEarle Mitchell, Willard London, 1943Earle Mitchell, Willard London, 1943Earle Mitchell & Will London, Ottawa ON, 1942Earle Mitchell, Ottawa ON, c1943Earle Mitchell, Montreal QCEarle Mitchell, 1943Earle Mitchell and tank crew, Holland, 1944Earle Mitchell and others, Holland, Christmas Day 1944Earle Mitchell wounded telegram, January 27 1945Earle Mitchell recovery telegram, January 31 1945Earle Mitchell, Vancouver BC, 1945Earle Mitchell, Qualicum Beach
Qualicum Beach
After the war, Earle married Evelyn Bagnall and they settled in Qualicum Beach, BC.
Earle Mitchell, Qualicum beach, 1950Earle Mitchell, Qualicum Beach, 1949-1950
Mitchell Family History 