Private Andrew Messer, 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 Agnes and the late John Messer of Dolphingston Farm and 61 Canongate, Jedburgh. Before the War he had been a mill worker and a member of the 4th Territorial. K.O.S.B. As a Territorial he was mobilised in August 1914 and went with his Battalion as part of the 52nd ( Lowland) Division to Gallipoli in June 1915.12th July became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Men 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 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.
