Private Gilbert Piercy

Private Gilbert John Piercy, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed on Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah aged 18. He was the son of Mr and Mrs James Piercy of Downham, Mindrum, Cornhill on Tweed and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before the war he had worked on the farm of Mr Davidson of East Learmouth, Cornhill-on-Tweed. That fateful day became known as “The Black Day of the Borders” as at evening roll call only 70 unwounded men out of over 700 Officers and men who had begun the attack answered. Few Border Towns and Villages had not lost at least on of their sons that day.  The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers “going over the top” and into action at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.