Private Peter Swanston

Private Peter Swanston, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 19, on 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Westruther and  was the son of James and Christina Swanston of Threepwood, Lauder and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. This day was known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. Only 70 unwounded Men answered Roll Call that evening out of over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had started the attack. The photograph shows Achi Baba, the objective, marked with a cross. This insignificant looking pimple dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.

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