Private Alexander Aikman

Private Alexander Aikman, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at  Galliopli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipolli, Turkey. He had been born and lived in Coldingham and had enlisted in Ayton. That fateful day afterwards was 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 Other Ranks who had begun the attack. the author’s Great Uncle Corporal Jim Murray was wounded and spent six weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to the Peninsula or the ” Pen” as he called it. The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” , which was the objective of the attack”, dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers “going over the top” at Gallipoli.

 

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