Sergeant Wellwood Maxwell Johnston

Sergeant  Wellwood Maxwell Johnston, ” E” Coy, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches  at Achi Baba Nullah on Gallipoli 12th July 1915. He  had been born in Ringwood, Hampshire and was the son of Robert and Mary Johnston of The Crooks, Hirsel, Coldstream and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.  He is also commemorated on the Preston, Duns, War Memorial. ( “E” Coy was based in Coldstream with detachments at Ayton, Eyemouth, Chirnside, Swinton and Coldingham ). He had been employed as a forester by the Earl of Home in Preston and had joined the Territorial K.O.S.B. in 1908.  He was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 and went to Gallipoli in June 1915.The Battalion was part of the 155th ( South Scottish ) Brigade in the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered Roll Call that evening out of over 700 Officers and men who began the attack. The author’s Great Uncle Lance Corporal Jim Murray of Coldstream was slightly wounded in the “Charge” and was sent to hospital in Alexandria. The first photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This insignificant looking “hill ” dominated the battlefield and was never captured . The second photograph  shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli.