Private James Allan

Private James Allan, “C” Coy., 1st/4th ( Border) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action in Palestine on 28th November 1917, aged 28. He was the son of Andrew Allan of Darnick, Melrose and is buried in Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. His headstone is inscribed “Thy Will Be Done”. He fell in the fighting at the Turkish held village of Suffa where, after the assault on the village, the Turks repeatedly counter attacked the British line which was held by The 1st/4th K.O.S.B., the 1st/5th K.O.S.B and the 1st/5th Royal Scots Fusiliers. The line held firm until the Turks were exhausted and retreated on December 2nd. The Battalion lost 1 Officer and 7 Other Ranks killed and 1 Officer and 22 Other Ranks wounded. The first photograph shows a group of Borderers at Ramleh in late 1917 and the second shows the Battalion on the march. The third shows Alec Lawrie, Willie Cockburn and Jim Murray who had all played frootball for Coldstream F.C. In 1925 Jim Murray won a Scottish Amateur Cup winners medal with Coldstream .