Private Ralph Dodds

Private Ralph Dodds, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915, aged 21, during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. That fateful day became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders ” as only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call out of the over 700 Officers and Men who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. He lived at Abbey St Bathans and was the Grandson of Ralph Dodds. The first photo shows Achi Baba which was the ultimate objective of the attack. This “hill” marked with a cross dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers attacking at Gallipoli.