Private George Barbour

Private George Watson Barbour, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 22, at Gallipoli on the15th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of James and Georgina Barbour of 41 Glebe Place, Galashiels. He had joined the Battalion in September 1914 and landed with them as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division in June 1915. 12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who began the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least on of their sons that fateful day. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. The first phot shows Achi 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