David Mercer (Royal Marines officer)
Sir David Mercer | |
|---|---|
 Sir David Mercer, 1918 | |
| Born | 1 July 1864 Islington, London |
| Died | 1 July 1920 (aged 56) London, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Marines |
| Years of service | 1883–1920 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Adjutant-General Royal Marines (1916–20) 1st Royal Naval Brigade (1915–16) |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Major General Sir David Mercer, KCB (1 July 1864 – 1 July 1920) was a Royal Marines officer who served as Adjutant-General Royal Marines.[1]
Military career
Mercer was commissioned into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1883.[2]
He became commander of the 1st Royal Naval Brigade in 1914 and saw action in France before taking part in the Gallipoli landings in June 1915 during the First World War.[2] The plan had been for Mercer to become military governor of Imbros[3] but, after fierce fighting, he was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915.[4]
He went on to be Assistant Adjutant-General in September 1911[5] and Adjutant-General Royal Marines in June 1916; however he died in office, from illness contracted while serving in Gallipoli.[6] He was buried in Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal.[2][7]
Personal life
Mercer married Katherine F. Laurence, who survived him.[7] He died on his 56th birthday of heart failure following an operation.[1]
References
- ^ a b "Obituary: Sir David Mercer". The Times. The Times Digital Archive. 2 July 1920. p. 15.
- ^ a b c Obituary: Sir David Mercer, Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 10 July 1920
- ^ Sellers, p. 148
- ^ "Gallipoli 100: Diary Entries From The Front". Forces.tv. 21 April 1915. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Navy List". December 1913. Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ "Senior Royal Navy appointments" (PDF). Retrieved 20 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Mercer, Sir David". CWGC. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
Sources
- Sellers, Leonard (1993). The Hood Battalion. Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1473819412.