Private John Cowe

Private John Cowe, ” C ” Coy. 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on Gallipoli on 26th April 1915 in the assault on ” Y ” Beach, aged 29. He was a Regular soldier and had served nine years with the Colours eight of them in India and Egypt. He had been born in Duns and was the son of  Catherine and the late William Cowe who had been landlord at the Hunt Inn in Duns and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. His mother had later emigrated to Canada. The Battalion was part of the 29th Division which comprised Regular Infantry Battalions only. The landing was intended to draw Turkish reserves away from the main landings further South at Cape Helles.  There followed fierce fight in on the cliff tops aided by the 11 inch guns of the pre dreadnought H.M.S. Goliath ( pictured below at Malta ) before the troops were inexplicably withdrawn and sent south to support the main landings at Cape Helles. The Battalion lost 296 Officers, N.C.Os and Other Ranks. and the Regimental History seems to indicate the withdrawal was done in error through miscommunications and the troops could have held on to further pin down the opposing Forces.