Private Andrew Swan

Private Andrew Campbell Swan, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He died of wounds at Gallipoli on 13th July 1915 of wounds received in the “Charge” of 12th July 1915 against the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 19. He had been born in Reston and was the son of Walter and Mary Swan of Reston and is buried in Lancashire Landing, Gallipoli, Turkey where his Headstone is inscribed ” Until The Day Breaks”.  He had an apprenticeship with his father who had a tailors business in Reston, Berwickshire. (The author’s Great Uncle Corporal James Murray was also wounded that day. He spent six weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to Gallipoli.). That fateful day became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders” as out of over 700 Officers and men who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered roll call that evening. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. 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 into the attack at Gallipoli.