Private Forrest Hall

Private Forrest Hall, 1st/4th ( Border ) Battalion, Kings Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed in action at Gallipoli, aged 38, during the ” Charge” on the Turkish trenches at Achi Baba Nullah. He had been born in Galashiels in 1891 and was the son of the late Forrest Hall and Jane Hall of 26 Curror Street, Selkirk. He had been a Regular Soldier with the 1st Battalion, K.O.S.B. until 1908 when he was discharged. He was employed as a power loom tuner when he re-enlisted in the Territorial K.O.S.B. in June 1913. In June 1915 his Battalion as part of the 52nd ( Lowland ) Division landed at Gallipoli. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey. That fateful day became known as the ” Black Day of the Borders” as at evening roll call only 70 unwounded men answered out of the over 700 Officers and Other Ranks who had begun the attack. Few Border Towns and Villages had not lost at least one of their sons that day. The ultimate object of the attack, Achi Baba is shown marked with a cross. This “hill” dominated the battlefield and was never captured. The second photo shows the Borderers “going over the top” at Gallipoli and the third shows the battlefield in 1922.