Private Joseph Edgar

Private Joseph Edgar,  1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli , aged 17,on 12th July 1915 in the attack on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah.  He had been born in Dumfries and was the son of George and Elizabeth Edgar of 43 Duke Street and 12 Leet Street, Coldstream. Before enlisting ( underage ) in September 1914 he had worked for Robert Murray (Ironmonger) on High Street, Coldstream. This fateful attack was known as ” The Black Day of the Borders” because so many Border men were lost in what became known as the ” The Charge ” The Battalion lost 12 Officers killed and 6 wounded with 319 Other Ranks killed and 203 wounded. Private Edgar is commemorated on the Helles Memorial to the missing of the Gallipoli campaign. . ( The author’s Great Uncle  Corporal James Murray was one of the wounded and was evacuated to hospital in Alexandria. He was back with his comrades on the Peninsula in six weeks and fought through Egypt, Palestine and France before returning home to Coldstream in December 1918 ). “E” Coy was based in Coldstream with detachments in Ayton, Eyemouth, Chirnside, Swinton and Coldingham. The first photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This ” Hill ” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photograph shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli. The Battalion was part of the 155th ( South Scottish ) Brigade in the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division.

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