Private John Blain

Private John Pretsell Blain, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Newton Stewart  he was the son of Mrs Jane and the late Hugh of Benrig, St. Boswells and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey.  He had been a Territorial with the K.O.S.B and was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 landing on Gallipoli in June 1915 with the rest of the 52nd(Lowland) Division The 12th July 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. Out of over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded Men answered the Roll Call that evening. The first photograph shows Achi Baba, the ultimate objective, marked with a cross. It looks insignificant but it commanded all the ground around thus making it a prime objective . The second shows the Borderers attacking at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.