John Wilson Age 25
Regimental No. 4501 Private 1/4 Battalion Kings Own Scottish Borderers
155 Brigade, 51 Lowland Division
Died of wounds 15 July 1915
Commemorated Helles Memorial, Gallipoli, Turkey
Personal Background
Initial indications were that this John Wilson was born in Hawick to Henry Wilson and Mary Ferguson, and enlisted in Galashiels, however some records suggest that the son of these parents went on to live in Canada and died there in 1963. As can be imagined, there were very many men of the same name who enlisted or were conscripted, and fairly extensive research has failed so far to find one who has any obvious connection to St. Boswells and was in this regiment. Any assistance in clarifying this would be most welcome.
Military Background
John Wilson was posted to Gallipoli, a place synonymous with huge Allied losses, where men arrived after a long sea voyage and immediately faced a ferocious enemy force familiar with the territory, and where the fighting was exacerbated by extremely harsh conditions.
The first major effort of the KOSB 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 Wilson, 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.