Private James Mitchell

Private James Percival Mitchell, 2nd Battalion, Black Watch. He was killed in action in Mesapotamia, aged 25, on 21st January 1916. He had been born at Leaderfoot and was the son of Elizabeth Percival and the stepson of James Mitchell of The Lodge, Gladswood, Melrose. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Basra, Iraq. The Battalion had arrived from France in December 1915 and was soon involved in an attempt to relieve a British garrison beseiged by the Turks in Kut-Al-Amara. He fell in the attack on the Turkish positions at the village of Hanna. The trenches were captured but heavy losses meant they could not be held in the face of strong counter attacks. This action cost the Battalion 60% of its fighting strength. 3 Officers and 100 Other Ranks killed and 3 Officers and 75 Other Ranks wounded.