Military Background
On 10 August 1914, John Blain and the other territorials volunteered for overseas service. They assembled in Galashiels and after a short time were transported to Cambusbarron, near Stirling, for 9 months intensive training. John went with the Battalion to Liverpool, where they boarded the troop ship "Empress of Britain". This took them to Mudros, where they transferred to smaller vessels which took them on to Gallipoli. They arrived on 14 June 1915 and went straight into the trenches.
Their first major effort was to occur on 12 July. They were ordered to take 3 lines of trenches occupied by the Turks. At 07.30 "A" and "B" Companies left their own trenches as the order to "Charge" was given. Shrapnel was bursting all around and machine gun and rifle fire reduced their numbers. They took the first and second Turkish trenches, but the third trench was no trench at all, being less than 1 foot in depth. They had to retire, and it was here that the bulk of the casualties occurred. "C" and "D" Companies, seeing the retiral, thought their help was needed, and so they charged. When "C" and "D" reached them, "A" and "B" turned once more and advanced, but the remnants of all companies had to retreat to the second Turkish trench. The Turks advanced in an effort to regain the lost trenches, but the 4th KOSB survivors successfully held the trench for the next 3 days.
The 4th KOSB attack on 12 July resulted in very heavy casualties, included Private John Blain, and for many months the casualty figure for the "missing" was very high. Eventually the relatives of those that were missing were told that their sons, fathers and brothers were all believed to have died. The eventual casualty figure returned was 12 officers and 310 other ranks killed, 6 officers and 203 other ranks wounded.
John Pretsell Blain Age 20
Regimental No. 573 Private 4th Kings Own Scottish Borderers
155th Brigade, 52nd Scottish Division
Missing, believed killed in action 12 July 1915, Gallipoli
Commemorated Helles Memorial, Gallipoli
Personal Background
John was the son of Mr Hugh and Mrs Jane Blain of Benrig, St. Boswells, where his father worked as a gardener. John joined the local Territorial Battalion (4th KOSB) well before the war. The benefits of part-time soldiering, apart from the social aspect, were the meetings at weekends or on an evening, and the Summer Camp, where they practised what they had learned. Territorial Battalions were not normally eligible for service overseas, but after the declaration of war in 1914, this restriction was abolished.
John had at least two brothers, James and Peter. James, who was 5 years his senior, was a police officer in Bromley, Kent in 1916, when he himself enlisted in the Scots Guards. He later returned to St Boswells, where he was employed on the railway, and died at his home, The Retreat, in 1952. His death was registered by his brother, Peter, who was still at Benrig, perhaps having followed in his father's footsteps.
