Private William Rutherford

Private William Rutherford, “A” Coy., 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Melrose to James and Cecilia Rutherford of Tower Road, Darnick and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. This fateful day became known as “The Black Day Of The Borders ” because that evening only 70 unwounded men out of over 700 Officers and men answered Roll Call. Very few towns and villages had not lost at least one of her sons. The photograph shows the terrain over which the Battalion attacked. Achi Baba is marked with an “X”. This “hill ” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photograph shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.