Private William Bennett

Private William Oliver Bennett, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action, aged 28, at Gallipoli, 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 James and Isabella Bennett of 5 Rosebank Place, Galashiels. ( His brother William also fell during the “Charge” – see above). He had been employed at the Comely Bank Mill and played football for Gala Fairydean. As a member of the Territorial K.O.S.B. he was was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 landing on Gallipoli with the rest 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 one of their sons that fateful day. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. 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.