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 19th April 1917 during the Second Battle of Gaza. He was the son of Margaret and the late David Mitchell of Tower Road and Smith’s Road, Melrose and is commemorated on the Jerusalem War Memorial. He had been employed as a gardener in Clovenfords before enlisting. He fell in the attack on the Turkish positions on “Outpost Hill” Despite heavy losses the attack was gallantly pressed up the slopes in the face of a storm of shells and bullets and with incredible spirit they broke though the wire entanglements and stormed the Turkish redoubt. However much weakened they were unable to hold their gains. The Battalion lost 11 Officers and 97 Other Ranks killed and 8 Officers and 226 Other Ranks wounded. The photo shows the Borderers on the march in Palestine,