David Mercer (Royal Marines officer) explained

Sir David Mercer
Birth Date:1 July 1864
Birth Place:Islington, Middlesex
Death Date:1 July 1920 (aged 56)
Death Place:London, England
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Branch:Royal Marines
Serviceyears:1883–1920
Rank:Major General
Commands:Adjutant-General Royal Marines (1916–20)
1st Royal Naval Brigade (1914–16)
Battles:First World War
Awards:Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Mentioned in Despatches (2)

Major General Sir David Mercer, (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 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

Mercer 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.

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: Obituary: Sir David Mercer . . 2 July 1920 . 15.
  2. Obituary: Sir David Mercer, Whitstable Times and Herne Bay Herald, 10 July 1920
  3. Sellers, p. 148
  4. Web site: Gallipoli 100: Diary Entries From The Front. 21 April 1915. Forces.tv. 20 May 2016. 18 January 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170118094735/http://forces.tv/89041888. dead.
  5. Web site: Navy List. December 1913. 20 May 2016.
  6. Web site: Senior Royal Navy appointments. 20 May 2016.
  7. Web site: Mercer, Sir David . 17 May 2018 . CWGC.