Private Adam Telfer

Private Adam Smith Telfer, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli aged 24, on the 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of William and Agnes Smith of Jerdonfield of Langhaughwalls, Jedburgh and Edgerston Tofts and he is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. The Battalion was part of the 155th ( South Scottish ) Brigade in the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division. That fateful day became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders ” as out of 700 Officers and Other Ranks only 70 unwounded men answered the evening roll call. Few Borders towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. The first photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers “going over the top” at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.