Private William Rutherford, “A” Coy., 1st/4th Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 20, on 12th July 1915 during the “Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Melrose to James and Cecelia Rutherford of Tower Road, Darnick, Melrose and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli. Turkey. This day became known as the “Black Day of the Borders” because at nightfall only 70 unwounded Men answered the roll call out of over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Very few Border towns and villages did not mourn the loss of at least one of their sons that fateful day. The first photograph shows Achi Baba, the objective, marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second shows the Borderers going over the top at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.
