Private John Hardie

Private John Smith Hardie, 1st/4th (Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 22, 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 John and Jemima Hardie of 44 Wilderhaugh, Galashiels. He had been a member of the Territorial K.O.S.B. and was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 going 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 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 after treatment in hospital in Alexandria returned to the “Pen” as he called it. The first photo shows Achi Baba the attack objective. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.