Private William Emslie

Private William Emslie, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on 12th July 1915 on Gallipoli during the “Charge”  on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 21. He had been born in Eyemouth and was the son of Mr and Mrs Charles Emslie of Bursar Court, Church Street, Eyemouth and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before enlisting in November 1914 he had been employed as a baker’s vanman with Mr Joseph Wood of Duns. That day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. The first photo shows Achi Baba, the attack objective, marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going “over the top” into action.