Corporal Archibald Martin

Corporal Archibald Martin, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion  Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 12th July 1915, aged 36, during the “Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was born in Coldingham and was the son of Alexander and Annie Martin of 6 Murray Street, Duns and the husband of Rachel Martin of Chirnside and Coldingham.  He had served his apprenticeship as a plumber in Duns and had been employed at the Chirnside Mills, Edrom.  He had served with the K.O.SB. volunteers in South Africa during the second South African War. On the outbreak of Wat he volunteered for service and went with the Battalion to Gallipoli in June 1915. Out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Of the twenty Officers eleven ,including the Colonel and his Adjutant, were killed and a further six wounded. Few Border Towns and Villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. 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 shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli.