Private Charles Watt

Private Charles C. Watt, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah aged 23. He was the son of Ellen Watt of High Street, Ayton and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before the War he had been employed as a labourer on Ayton Estate. He was educated at the Berwickshire High School, Duns and is also commemorated on the Memorial Tablet placed in the new Berwickshire High School, Duns. 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 Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. (The author’s Great Uncle Corporal James Murray was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to the Peninsula. He eventually returned to Coldstream in December 1918 ).The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” , the ultimate objective, dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers “going over the top” at Gallipoli.