Private James Kerr

Private James Kerr, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 27. He was the son of William and Charlotte Kerr of Blinkbonny, Nenthorn, Kelso and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been employed as a forester on the Mellerstain Estate and was a member of the 4th Territorial K.O.S.B. who were mobilised in August 1914 on the outbreak of War. His photograph indicates that he was a Battalion piper. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. The contemporary photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross.  This ” hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli and the third shows the Battlefield as it looked in 1922.