Private Archibald Buckham

Private Archibald Buckham, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 24, on the 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of Adam and Annie Law Buckham of Synton, Ashkirk and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. That day became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening rollcall. few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. The author’s Great Uncle Corporal Jim Murray was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to his comrades on Gallipoli or “the Pen” as he called it. The first photo shows the ultimate objective, Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the Battlefield and was never captured. The second shows Borderers ” going over the top” at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.