MAJOR KENNETH MITCHELL POTTER DSO, 'D' BATTERY 52nd BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY.


MAJOR KENNETH MITCHELL POTTER DSO, 'D' BATTERY 52nd BRIGADE ROYAL FIELD ARTILLERY. KILLED IN ACTION 8th JULY 1917 AGED 35


Kenneth Potter was born in Ilkley in the spring of 1882, the third son of William Furniss Potter and his wife Kate. His father had made a considerable fortune constructing railways in both India and Japan sufficient that he was able to retire at a young age. Together with his wife William bought a large house which they called Arundel Lodge built on an extensive plot at the junction of Wilton Road and Grove Road in Ilkley.

It seems likely that Kenneth was educated locally until the age of 12 years when he was sent as a boarder to the famous public school Marlborough College which he attended until the age of 16 years. His subsequent whereabouts are unknown, but in July 1901 he received a commission in the Royal Artillery. Kenneth began his military career at Aldershot, but was soon on his way to Ireland where his unit was stationed at The Curragh. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1910 and two years later posted to India where he remained until early 1916. Initially, he served in Britain but in November 1916 he was sent to France to command a battery of howitzers of the 52nd Brigade, Royal Field stationed in the Arras sector.

In the spring of 1917 British preparations began for a new offensive that became known as the Third Battle of Ypres, commonly called 'Passchendaele'. Artillery would feature heavily in the attack and many brigades of the Royal Field Artillery were moved north into the Ypres area. The 52nd Brigade moved from Arras in late spring of 1917 and it was whilst they were near to the Belgian town of Dickiebusch that Kenneth won the Distinguished Service Order for his actions in rallying men and horses during a German Artillery Attack.

On the 8th July 1917 Kenneth and his commanding officer Lt. Col. Belcher along with two other officers went forward to reconnoiter new positions for the 52nd Brigade near to Verbrandenmolen. Although the village was behind the British lines it was within range of German artillery and as the Kenneth, his colonel and another officers stood discussing the new position a stray shell landed amongst them killing all three instantly.

Major Kenneth Mitchell's body was taken to The British Military Cemetery at Dickiebusch where he lies to this day. He is also proudly remembered on our war memorial in Ilkley.






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