Private Alexander Cessford

Private Alexander Cessford, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action on 12th July 1915 in Gallipoli during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 23. He was the son of William and Jane Cessford of Haughhead Cottages, Earlston and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before the War he had been employed by Messrs A.& R. Brownlie Timber Merchants. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered roll call out of the Over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were posted missing presumed killed. The first photo shows Achi Baba, the objective of the attack, marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers going into the attack.