Private David Hunter

Private David Hunter, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge”on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 19.  and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Reston and was the son of William and the late Margaret Hunter of Haughhead, Reston. Prior to enlisting in November 1914 he had worked with his father at Heughhead farm, Reston and was a member of the Reston United Free Church choir. His twin brother, Henry, was also serving with the K.O.S.B and he also fell – see above.  Another brother was working in a munitions factory near Rosyth. That fateful day 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. Seventeen of the twenty Officers became casualties including the Colonel and his Adjutant who were both killed. Few Border Towns and Villages had not lost one of their sons that day. The first photo 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” at Gallipoli.