Private Arthur Cunningham

Private Arthur Cunningham, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 21, on the 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Hawick and was the son of Walter and Elizabeth Cunningham of 61 Lintburn Street, Galashiels. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been a member of the 4th Territorial K.O.S.B. and was mobilised with his Battalion in August 1914 going to Gallipoli as part of the 52nd( Lowland) Division 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 first photo shows Ahi Baba the objective of the attack. 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. ( His brother Walter also fell during the War – see below ).