Private Ralph Coulter

Private Ralph Coulter, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine, aged 19, on 19th April 1917 on the attack on ” Outpost Hill” during the Second Battle of Gaza and is commemorated on the Gaza memorial, Gaza, Israel. He had been born at Langton, Duns and was the son of Mary and the stepson of Alexander Coulter of Linton, Roxburghshire. Gallantly led by Major Wattie Forrest of Kelso ( see above ) the Battalion managed to capture the main Turkish redoubt but heavy casualties, enfilading machine gun fire and a shortage of ammunition forced a retirement back to British lines in the face of fierce Turkish counter attacks.  Casualties were 6 Officers and 44 Other Ranks killed with 9 Officers and 152 Other Ranks wounded. ( Major Forrest was mortally wounded on the parapet of the redoubt ).The photographs show the Borderers in Palestine in 1917.

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