Private Alexander Forbes

Private Alexander Forbes, 1st Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 26, at Gallipoli on 4th June 1915 and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Berwick and was the son of Alexander and Elizabeth Forbes of Sheddon Park Road, Kelso. He was a Regular soldier as had been his father and was serving in Lucknow, India with the Battalion on the outbreak of War. He had been the Pipe Major in the Kelso Fife and Drum band. He fell during the Third Battle of Krithia where a general attack was designed to cut the Peninsula in two. The attack was preceded by a bombardment of the Turkish positions by two pre dreadnought battleships H.M.S. Vengeance” and H.M.S. “Swiftsure” ( pictured below). Despite this no mans land was too wide, the defences were too strong and the Battalion made only slight gains. The whole attack failed with heavy loss to both sides. The second photograph shows the Battalion going over the top that morning.

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