Private James Allan

Private James Allan “C” Coy., 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine on 28th November 1917 aged 28. He was the son of Andrew Allan of Darnick and ois buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. His Headstone is inscribed “Thy Will Be Done”. He fell in the fighting at the Turkish held village of Suffa where after the initial assault the Turks repeatedly counter attacked the British lines which were held by the 1st/4th K.O.S.B, The 1st/5th K.O.S.B and the 1st/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers. The lines held firm until the exhausted and defeated Turks retreated on December 2nd. Battalion casualties were 1 Officer and 7 Other Ranks killed and 1 Officer and 22 Other Ranks wounded. The photo shows the Borderers in Palestine in late 1917. The three soldiers are Alec Lawrie, Willie Cockburn and Jim Murray who all played football for Coldstream F.C. Jim Murray went on with the team to win the Scottish Amateur cup in 1925.