Private Andrew Haig

Private Andrew Newton Haig, ” E” Coy. 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers .He was killed at Gallipoli during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah on 12th July 1915, aged 21. He was the grandson of the late Andrew Haig of Coldstream and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Croydon, Surrey and was brought up as a young boy by his his late grandfather Andrew Haig and his  aunt Miss Amy Haig of 49 High Street, Coldstream.  Like his father and grandfather before him he was a saddler to trade and was a member of the Territorial K.O.S.B. He was mobilised in August 1914 and went to Gallipoli with his Battalion in June 1915. 12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered Roll Call that evening out of the 700 Officers and men who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. The first photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This insignificant looking pimple overlooked the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Battalion “going over the top” at Gallipoli. The Battalion was part of the 155th ( South Scottish ) Brigade in the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division.