Lieutenant Robert Ballantyne Anderson, “D” Coy.,1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine, aged 27, on the 19th April 1917 during the Second Battle of Gaza. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of Robert and Agnes Anderson of Glenburn Hall, Jedburgh. He had been educated at St. Mary’s, Melrose and Edinburgh Academy before going up to Edinburgh University to study Law from 1908-1912. He was appointed Writer to the Signet in Edinburgh in 1913. In September 1914 he enlisted in the Lovat Scouts as a Private and was then commissioned into the K.O.S.B. in January 1915 serving at Gallipoli, Egypt and then Palestine. He fell in the attack on the Turkish defences on ” Outpost Hill”. Gallantly led by Major Wat Forrest from Kelso. the redoubt was captured but with increasing casualties, dwindling ammunition and in the face of fierce Turkish counter attacks the position could not be held. Eventually Lieutenant Anderson assumed command being the senior Officer left alive and unwounded. He ordered the evacuation but was shot through the heart, dying instantly. Casualties were heavy with 6 Officers and 44 Other Ranks killed and 9 Officers and 152 Other Ranks wounded. He is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Palestine where his Headstone is inscribed “Of Glenburn Hall, Jedburgh, Scotland “. The photos show Borderers in Palestine in 1917.
