Private George Anderson

Private George Anderson, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah, aged 18. He had been born in Lasswade and was the son of George Anderson of the Red Lion, Reston and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.  Before enlisting in December 1914 he had been employed as a groom at East Reston, Ayton. That day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” because of the very heavy casualties. Few Border towns and villages had not lost at least one of their sons that fateful day. Seventeen Officers had become casualties out of the twenty who had begun the attack and at evening roll call only 70 unwounded Other Ranks answered. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his Adjutant Captain Lang from Newstead were both amongst the fallen. The first photo shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going over the top into the attack.