David Mercer (Royal Marines officer)


Sir David Mercer, was a Royal Marines officer who served as Adjutant-General Royal Marines.

Military career

Mercer was commissioned into the Royal Marine Light Infantry in 1883.
He became commander of the 1st Royal Naval Brigade in 1914 and saw action in France before taking part in the Gallipoli landings in June 1915 during the First World War. The plan had been for Mercer to become military governor of Imbros but, after fierce fighting, he was evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915.
He went on to be Assistant Adjutant-General in September 1911 and Adjutant-General Royal Marines in June 1916; however he died in office, from illness contracted while serving in Gallipoli. He was buried in Hamilton Road Cemetery, Deal.

Personal life

Mercer married Katherine F. Laurence, who survived him. He died on his 56th birthday of heart failure following an operation.