Private Andrew Cranston

Private Andrew Douglas Cranston, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 28, on the 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Jedburgh and was the son of Andrew and Margaret Cranston of 5 Boundaries, Jedburgh. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. That day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who took part in 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. Both Colonel McNeile from Bowden and his adjutant Captain Laing from Newstead were killed. ( The author’s great uncle Corporal Jim Murray from Coldstream was wounded and spent 6 weeks in hospital in Alexandria before re-joining his comrades on the Peninsula). the first photo shows Achi baba, the ultimate objective of the attack. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli.