Private Andrew Thompson

Private Andrew Thompson, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 21, during the ” Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He was the son of John and the late Janet Thompson of Carter House, Southdean, Roxburghshire and 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 the 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. Before enlisting he had been employed as a shepherd at Broombaulks Farm and had been a member of the Edgerston Recreation Club. The first photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. The “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.