Private William Richley

Private William Richley, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915, aged 34, during the “Charge” at Achi Baba Nullah and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey. He was the brother of Mary Richley of Keith Bank, Inverkeithing, Fife. He had been born in Newcastle and had been brought up by his uncle and aunt William and Frances Richley of Horsemarket. Kelso. He had been employed as a tailor in Kelso when he enlisted in November 1914. That fateful day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” as over 600 Officers and men became casualties with only 70 unwounded men answering evening roll call. Few Border Tows and Villages had not lost at least one of their sons. The contemporary photograph shows Achi Baba marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers attacking at Gallipoli and the third shows the Battlefield in 1922.