David Mercer (Royal Marines officer)

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]

Major-General Sir David Mercer KCB
Sir David Mercer, 1918
Born	1 July 1864 Islington, Middlesex
Died	1 July 1920 (aged 56) London, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	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

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.^[2][7]