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]
Sir David Mercer | |
|---|---|
 Sir David Mercer, 1918 | |
| Born | 1 July 1864 Islington, Middlesex |
| 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 (1914–16) |
| Battles / wars | First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Military career
editMercer 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 during the Siege of Antwerp. Following the subsequent retreat, Mercer led the brigade into the Netherlands to avoid capture by the Germans. In 1915, still at the head of the brigade, he took part in the Gallipoli landings in June 1915.[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.[6]
Personal life
editMercer married Katherine F. Laurence, who survived him.[7] He died on his 56th birthday of heart failure following an operation.[1] He was buried in Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal.[2][7]
References
edit- ^ a b "Obituary: Sir David Mercer". The Times. 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. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. 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
edit- Sellers, Leonard (1993). The Hood Battalion. Pen & Sword. ISBN 978-1473819412.