Private Gilbert Brownlee

Private Gilbert Brownlee, 1st Battalion, Kings own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 32, on the 26th April 1915 and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. He had been born in Galashiels and was the son of the late Helen Brownlee and the husband of Jane Brownlee of 23 Hall Street, Galashiels. He had enlisted as a Regular soldier in 1899 and had served in the Second Anglo Boer War in 1901/1902. As a reservist he was mobilised in August 1914 and joined the 2nd K.O.S.B. in France in September 1914. He was wounded at La Bassee and after recovery he was posted to the 1st Battalion which was part of the 29th Division. The Battalion landed on Gallipoli at “Y” Beach on the 25th April in an attempt to draw Turkish forces away from the main landings at Cape Helles.Heavy fighting took place and the Battalion was withdrawn to reinforce the landings at Helles having suffered 250 casualties. The photo was taken from “Y” Beach looking South to Helles.