Private Robert Dickson

Private Robert Dickson, 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 Isabella and the late Gavin Dickson of Richmond Row and 13 Old Bridgend, Jedburgh. He had volunteered for overseas service and landed at Gallipoli with the rest of the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division in June 1915. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. Before the War he had been employed as a porter at Jedburgh Station and played rugby for Jed Forest R.F.C. 12th July became known as “the Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Men 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. The first photo shows Achi Baba which was the ultimate object of the attack. This “hill” marked with a “X” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli.