Gallipoli Day: 12 July 2016
History repeats itself 100 years on
In continuation of a ceremony which dates back to 1916, members of Hawick Callants Club met on Tuesday 12th July to lay wreaths in commemoration of the men from Hawick who served with the 1/4th (Borders) Battalion of the Kings Own Scottish Borderers and lost their lives on the Gallipoli peninsula in July 1915.
The Club was joined by Honorary Provost Stuart Marshall, and members of local Ex-Service Associations for the ceremony, which saw wreaths being laid at both the 1514 (Horse) Memorial at 7.00pm and at the War Memorial in Wilton Lodge Park at 7.20pm.
This year was a unique occasion as the first wreath, on behalf of the Club, was be laid by Club Past President Frank Scott, one hundred years after his Great-Grandfather, Bailie Francis Scott, laid a wreath at the Horse in 1916. This was followed with the verse from Laurence Binyon’s poem “For the Fallen” being recited by Club member and President of the Ex-servicemen’s Club, Jim Adams.
Thereafter the party move on to Wilton Lodge Park where after piper Colin Turnbull and bugler Colin Crozier had led the march to the War Memorial, President Bernie Armstrong laid the second wreath, on behalf of the Gallipoli Comrades Association. The lament “Flowers of the Forest” and sounding of The “Last Post” was played before a minute’s silence was observed and following “Reveille”, the parade marched back to the museum.
Commenting before the commemoration, President Armstrong said, “This is a ceremony which is unique to the Borders, if not the whole of Scotland. The attack at Gallipoli on 12th July 1915 and in the following months saw some one hundred and thirty-two men from the Hawick area killed with many more wounded. It impacted and left a lasting legacy on the whole community, and it is only fitting and proper that we continue to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice.”
As part of the centenary commemorations last year, a party of some 25 Callants Club members and friends visited the Gallipoli peninsula to pay their respects.
