Private Ralph Waddell

Private Ralph Mitchell Waddell, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 19, on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah,. He had been born in Edrom and was the son of James and Mary Waddell of 3 Golden Square, Duns and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was educated at the Berwickshire High School, Duns and is also commemorated on the Memorial Tablet placed in the new Berwickshire High School, Duns.  He was serving his apprenticeship as a baker in Duns and was a member of the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. He was mobilised with the Battalion in august 1914 and landed on Gallipoli on 15th June 1915. 12th July became 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 Colonel and his Adjutant were both posted missing presumed killed. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. 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 shows the Borderers going “over the top” and going into the attack at Gallipoli.