Private Adam Davidson

Private Adam Davidson, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, on the 12th July 1915 during the “Charge ” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of Robert and the late Mabel Davidson of 139 Halliburton Place, Galashiels. He had been employed at the Buckholm Mill and was a member of the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. He was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 and as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division landed on Gallipoli in June 1915. 12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. The authors Great Uncle, Corporal James Murray from Coldstream, was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to the “Pen” as he called it. The first photo shows Achi Baba the attack objective. 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.