Private Hart Imrie

Private Hart Imrie, 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 James and Catherine Imrie of 19 Church Street, Galashiels. He had been employed as an apprentice engineer in the Netherdale Mill in Galashiels and was a Member of the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. He was mobilised with the Battalion 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 began the assault 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 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.