Private William Cowan

Private William Henderson Cowan, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 19, 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 Catherine Cowan of 66 High Buckholmside, Galashiels. He was a mill worker in the Town and had enlisted in the Territorial K.O.S.B. in March 1913. He was mobilised with the battalion on the outbreak of War in August 1914 and went to Gallipoli in June 1915 as part of the 52nd(Lowland) Division. 12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who went into action only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Few Border towns and villages had not lost one or more of their sons that fateful day. 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.