Private Robert Haig

Private Robert Haig, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 24, 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 Mrs Mary and J. Haig of Canongate, Jedburgh. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.  Before the War he had been employed as a plumber. 12th July became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders” as out of the over 700 Officers and Men who made 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 author’s great uncle Corporal Jim Murray was wounded and spent six weeks in hospital in Alexandria before returning to his comrades on the Peninsula ). The first photo shows Achi Baba which was the ultimate objective of the attack. The second shows Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli.