Private James Sturgeon

Private James Sturgeon, 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 26th April 1915 and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was born in Berwick and had enlisted as a Regular solder at the Depot in the Town. The Battalion as part of the 29th Division had landed at ” Y ” Beach on the first day of the campaign with the intention of preventing Turkish reinforcements opposing one of the main landings at Cape Helles at the South of the Peninsula. The landing was opposed and the action became a grim defensive struggle. The Turks were finally repulsed in part due to the 11 inch guns of the pre dreadnought Battleship H.M.S. Goliath ( pictured below ) which was anchored off shore in support of the landings. Then  inexplicably orders were received to vacate their positions and re-embark for Helles to reinforce the landings there. This action cost the Battalion 290 casualties and there were heavy casualties amongst the Officers. The photograph shows ” Y ” Beach looking South to Cape Helles.