Private Alexander Shearlaw

Private Alexander Shearlaw, 1/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 18. He was the son of Jane and the late Alexander Shearlaw of Ayton and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before the war he was employed as a porter with the North British Railway at Ayton station. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as at evening roll call only 70 unwounded men answered out of the over 700 Officers and men who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” , which was the ultimate objective, dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going 2 over the top” at Gallipoli.