Private Alexander Johnstone

Private Alexander George Johnstone, 1st/4th ( Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, 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 C.S.M. William and the late Mary Johnstone of 28 Market Street, Galashiels. He had been a Member of the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. and was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 going to Gallipoli 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 had begun the attack only 70 unwounded men answered evening roll call. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. The author’s Great Uncle Corporal Jim Murray from Coldstream was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to the “Pen” as he called it. The first photo 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. ( His brother Robert also fell during the War – see below ).