Corporal William Neil

Corporal William Kerr Neil, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915, aged 21 , during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish positions at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of Agnes and the late James Neil of 6 Rose Lane, Kelso and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. Turkey. He had been born in Kelso and lived in the Town. Over 600 Officers and Other Ranks became casualties that day which became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. Both Colonel Mcneile from Bowden and his adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. 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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