Private John Amos

Private John Laidlaw Rae Amos, 1st/4th ( Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 18 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 William and Robina Amos of 55 Stirling Street, Galashiels. He had been employed as a baker and was a member of the Territorial K.O.S.B. being mobilised in August 1914 and landing with the Battalion on Gallipoli in June 1915 as part of the 52nd (Lowland) Division. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. That fateful day 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. The authors Great Uncle Corporal Jim Murray from Coldstream was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to Gallipoli or “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. ( John’s brother Thomas also fell during the War- see below)