Harry Mitschke was born in West Hartlepool in 1891, and was of Prussian descent.
The 1861 Census records his paternal Grandfather , Gottleib Mitschke, as a non-naturalised Prussian working as a Timber Merchant’s Clerk, living at No.106, Scarborough Street, West Hartlepool, with his wife Hannah (born in Hull), and their five children: Charles (aged 13), Ernest (10), Harold (6), Bertha (3), and 1-year old Ambrose.
Ernest married sometime around 1885, and the 1911 Census shows he was a Joiner and Picture Framer living at No.12, Surtees Street, West Hartlepool, with his wife Mary (from Bishop Auckland), and their two children, Annie (aged 22), and Harry (20). Neither of their children’s occupations are given, however, at some point Harry went to sea.
Harry was serving aboard the steamship Beeswingas a Sailor when she sailed from the Tyne on March 2nd, 1915. Bound for Dieppe with a cargo of coal, she was not heard from again, and it was presumed the ship had been mined or torpedoed with the loss of all 21 crew.
His parents address at this time is given as No.252, Newport Road, Middlesbrough.
