Private John Scott Waite, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, on the 12th July 1915 during the ” Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Southdean, Roxburghshire and was the son of James and Agnes Waite of Canongate, Jedburgh and 60 High Street, Eyemouth. He was a member of the Territorial 4th K.O.S.B. and was mobilised with the Battalion in August 1914 landing on 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. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. 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. ( Photograph of Private Waite courtesy of J. D. Smith )
