Lance Corporal Archibald Martin

Lance Corporal Archibald Martin, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 36, on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Coldingham and was the son of Alexander and Annie Martin of 6 Murray Street, Duns and the husband of Rachel Martin of Chirnside. He had served in the second Anglo-Boer War with the K.O.S.B. Volunteers and as a member of the National Reserve he had volunteered for service in August 1914. Before enlisting he had been employed as a plumber at the Chirnside Mills near Duns. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the assault only 70 unwounded men answered roll call that evening. Most of the Officers were either killed or wounded including both the Colonel and his Adjutant who were posted missing presumed killed. The contemporary photograph shows Achi Baba, the objective of the attack, marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers going over the top into the attack at Gallipoli.

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