Andrew Lindores                    Age26

 Regimental. No. 7106           Private         4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers

                                                                        55th Brigade, 52nd Division

Died of Wounds                                           22nd June 1915

Buried                                                            Lancashire Landing Cemetery , Gallipoli

 

Personal Background

Andrew was born in Earlston in 1889, second son of Alexander and Janet B. Lindores.  The family moved around quite frequently, as was common for those employed on farms. Two years later they were at Legerwood, living in the Hind's House.  Ten years on, in 1901, they were at Peffermill Cottages, Liberton, Midlothian and the family now had 14 children.  Mr Lindores had progressed and was Grieve at the farm there.  In 1911 we find them at Riddell Shiel Cottage, Lilliesleaf, not very far from St. Boswells.  Andrew, known as Danny to the family, is believed to have followed in his father's footsteps and was working as a ploughman at the time he enlisted, though we don't know exactly where,  but possibly at Crossflat just outside the village. 

 

Private Lindores served in Gallipoli, which was the scene of sustained hard combat in conditions which led to many succumbing to disease rather than injuries.  He, however, was fatally wounded and is buried there.  At the time of his death the family were at Corsbie, near Earlston, but later returned to Crossflat, St. Boswells.

 

His younger brother, John, also served during WW1, enlisting in April 1916.  John's enlistment papers show that his preferred regiment was the one in which Danny had served, the 4th KOSB, however he was allocated to the Royal Scots and was only a month in action with the British Expeditionary Force when he sustained a gunshot wound to the thigh and was sent back to the UK to recuperate.  

 

Military Background

On 22 June 1915 Private Lindores' Battalion moved into the front line trenches.  The Turks were very close, as the trench the Borderers were in had been the Turkish firetrench and when they had retired they had moved into an adjoining communication trench.  The end had been blocked up with sandbags but the Turks could still creep up and throw hand grenades.  The Turkish snipers were constantly ready to shoot at anything that moved.

 

At sunset, until nightfall, every man "stood - to".  No man in the firetrenches was allowed to take his equipment off or be away from his rifle, which had the magazine filled and bayonet fixed.  It was on this first day in the trenches that Private Lindores was wounded, by rifle fire or hand grenade.  Later than same day he died of his wounds.  During their first five days in the trenches there were 13 other casualties. His parents inserted the following verse in the Southern Reporter in July 1915:

 

            "Sleep on, dear son, in a far off land

            Your struggle is now o'er.

            You fell, a brave young hero,

            Amidst the cannon's roar.

            The birds will chirp o'er thy grave

            Which we may never see

            But as long as life and memory last

            We will remember thee."