Lieutenant Charles Gardiner

Lieutenant Charles Gardiner, 4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers attd. 6th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Belgium, aged 36, on the 25th April 1918 during the German offensive on the River Lys. He had been born in Old Macher, Aberdeen and was the son of Margaret and the late Edward Gardiner of Langhaugh House, Galashiels and the husband of Gladys Gardiner of Lealands Galashiels. He had been a partner in the firm of Edward Gardiner& Sons woollen manufacturers of Selkirk. He was commissioned into the K.O.S.B in November 1915. The battalion were under severe pressure on the 25th and were forced back to a more defensible line, the “Cheapside Line”. 7 Officers were killed on the 25th and a further 11 wounded. Other Rank casualties were equally heavy but with the support of the 8th Black Watch the line held. The photos show troops in defensive positions.