Private David Mitchell

Private David Mitchell, 1st/5th ( Dumfries and Galloway ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine, aged ,on 19th April during the Second Battle of Gaza. He was the son of Margaret and the late David Mitchell of Tower Road, Darnick and Smith’s Road, Melrose and is commemorated on the Jerusalem War Memorial, Israel. Before enlisting he had been employed as a gardener. He fell in the attack on the Turkish positions on “Outpost Hill”. Despite heavy losses the attack , led by Major Wattie Forrest from Kelso, was gallantly pressed up the slopes in the face of a storm of shells and machine gun fire. With incredible spirit they broke through the barbed wire entanglements and stormed the Turkish redoubt. However very much weakened they were unable to hold their gains despite their sister Battalion, 1st/4th K.O.S.B being pushed up in support. Losses were 11 Officers and 111 Other Ranks killed and 8 Officers and 226 Other Ranks wounded. The photo shows the Borderers on the march in Palestine.

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