Private William Mack

Private William Mack, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 23, at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the son of Thomas and the late Letitia of Manorhill farm, Makerstoun and Blakelaw farm, Kelso. Before enlisting he had been employed as a shepherd at Fans farm, Earlston, Berwickshire. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call out of the 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had began the attack. Few Border Towns or Villages had not lost at least one of their sons. The photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers attacking at Gallipoli and the third shows the Battlefield in 1922.

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