Lance Corporal James Mitchell

Lance Corporal James Percival Mitchell, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action in Mesapotamia on 21st January 1916 aged 25.  He had been born at Leaderfoot, Melrose and was the son of James and Elizabeth Mitchell of The Lodge, Gladswood, Melrose and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. At that time British were attempting the relieve the force besieged in the town of Kut-al-Amara and many actions were fought to achieve this. He fell in the attack on Turkish positions at Hanna. The first line of trenches were taken but owing to the casualties suffered could not be held and a retirement was made back to the jump off trenches. Losses were 3 Officers and 100 Other Ranks killed or missing with a further 75 wounded. This action cost the Battalion 60% of its fighting strength.

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