Private Thomas Hope

Private Thomas Hope 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on Gallipoli, aged 26, on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of Robert Hope of Park Barn, Brampton and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Ancrum, enlisted in Galashiels and had lived in Lilliesleaf. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who began the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers attacking at Gallipoli and the third shows the Battlefield in 1922.  ( His brother James also fell – see above ).