Private David Mitchell

Private David Mitchell, 1st/5th ( Dumfries and Galloway ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine, aged 19, on the 19th April 1917 during the Second Battle of Gaza. He had been born in Melrose and was the son of Margaret and the late David Mitchell of Darnick, Melrose. Before enlisting he had been employed as a gardener at Clovenfords, Caddonfoot. He joined his Battalion in Egypt in 1916 before moving into Palestine. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. He fell in the attack on ” Outpost Hill” where the battalion suffered heavy casualties. 10 Officers and 99 Other Ranks were killed and 8 Officers and 226 Other Ranks were wounded. Their sister Battalion, 1st/4th K.O.S.B. also suffered heavily in this attack. The photo shows the Borderers on the march in Palestine.