Private William Herkes

Private William Herkes, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 30, on 12th July 1915 at Gallipoli during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Coldstream to Robert and Eliza Herkes and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. The Battalion was part of the 155th ( South Scottish ) Brigade of the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division. 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. Before enlisting he had been employed as a ploughman at Newtonlees, Ednam. The contemporary photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. Private Herkes is not commemorated on the War Memorial but as he had been born in Coldstream we feel he is worthy of inclusion here. The second photograph shows the Borderers going “over the top” at Gallipoli.