LOST BORDERERS.

Taranaki Daily News, 3 May 1916, Page 2

LOST BORDERERS.

IN A DEATH ZONE. TRAPPED IN GALLIPOLI. It will :be remembered that after the engagement at the Dardanelles on July 12 last a large number of territorials belonging to the l/4t'h K. 0.5.8., drawn from the different Border towns, were reported missing, and nothing further has been heard of them since. Some of the parents have been making enquiries in regard to their missing.sons, and the following letters which have been received and published in the Scotsman explain themselves, and indicate that there is little hope of any of the missing now turning up:— Dear Sir, —With reference to your enquiry for your son, we have received from our office in Alexandria the enclosed general account of the attack made by the K. 0.5.8. on July 12, and we fear that we shall not be able to obtain any more news about the men of this 'battalion, as you will see by no account of this action that very few survived. 'Please accept our deepest sympathy. Yours faitlifullv, LOUIS MALLET. Report referred to: Cairo, January 21, 1916. , King's Own Scottish Borderers—Catas-

trophe of July 12. Tliis battalion, composed at the time chiefly of men of the l/4th, forued part of the 52nd Division operating at Cape Helles. A day or so previous to the a'bpve date a Turkish trench had been spotted by aeroplane, and orders wore given to the Borderers on July 11 that they were to take it the following morning. They were also informed that there were two other trenches intervening between themselves and their objective, but that they were weakly 'held, and that if opposition were offered it would easily be brushed aside. The trench which the Borderers occupied was between 300 yards and 400 yards from those which they were going to attack. The plan that was given to them was, roughly, as indicated below:

Turkish trench, 150 yards. Second intervening trench, 100 yards. First intervening trench, 100 yards. Scottish Borderers' trench,

It was decided that the attack should be delivered by two companies at a time, probably by A and B and supported by C and 0, 'but of the actual details my informant was uncertain. In the event the first two companies jumped over the parapet, successfully stormed the two intervening trenches, and found themselves not long afterwards in the trench which they had been ordered to take. Unfortunately this proved to be no real trench at all. It was either a dummy which had been carefully prepared by the enemy, or a fold in the ground, which they knew would serve equally well. On" arrival they were subjected to terrific fire, both from rifles and machine guns. There was no shelter, and they began to fall back rapidly. Eventually a few survivors began to trickle back.

When this was seen by the officer commanding the two companies who wore in support he immediately gave the order for them to advance, without knowing what had occurred. They accordingly rushed forward, caught up the stragglers with them, and the intervening trenches being empty, in a few minutes found themselves in the dummy trenches, where a like, fate to that •which had overtaken their comrades awaited them. It was, in fact, full of their dead bodies. They in their turn, after suffering grievous losses, were forced to retire, hut they did not return to their original trench.

The second intervening trench afforded them cover, and in this they stuck, and no efforts of the Turks we're sufficient to dislodge them, hut it was but a sorry remnant of a fine battalion. This position was consolidated, and here they remained until relieved. So far as.is known, no further advance was ever made, nor, indeed, does that seem possible. All efforts to succor the wounded or collect the dead proved fruitless. The few that tried it were killed, and definite orders had to be issued that no furher attempts should be made. It was a death-zone where none dared to enter, either Briton or Turk.

It. is evident that no prisoners could have been taken, and it is practically certain that all men missing on that day who did not report themselves afterwards were lost.

The account of this most unfortunate affair was given by Lieutenant Mellon, who was absent at the time of its occurrence, but rejoining the battalion a few days later, heard all there was to be known at first-hand. (Signed) C. \Y. E. DUOTOMBE, Colonel.