The annual ceremony to mark the anniversary date of the 1915 Turkish conflict at the tip of the Gallipoli Peninsula – which wiped out over half the 1/4th (Border Battalion) of The Kings Own Scottish Borderers – saw special tributes being paid at both the 1514 and war memorials on Saturday night.

The Callants Club has proudly conducted the ceremony for several years since the Hawick Gallipoli Comrades' Association became too depleted, and this year it was led by club president and Ex-Acting Father Henry Douglas.

He told the Hawick News: "It was quite an honour and a privilege to represent the Callants Club, in what is a very simple ceremony with no speeches or commands, but very moving. It was also nice to see such a lot of people and that it is still a ceremony held dear to folk, including ex-Servicemen from Galashiels and Jedburgh."

The club president laid a Callants Club wreath on the 1514 Memorial, after which KOSB Malaya veteran and new Callants Club Council member, Viv Sharp, ably reading the short verse: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning, we shall remember them."

Afterwards Viv said: "I was very impressed as this was the first time I've been here for this occasion."



Members of the Callants Club and their wives, representatives from the KOSB Association including Lt Colonel Colin Hogg, members of the Ex-Servicemen's Association and British Legion then assembled at the museum in Wilton Lodge Park to pay their respects at the war memorial.

Honorary Provost Zandra Elliot who took part in both ceremonies, commented: "Saturday's ceremony attracted the best attendance I have seen in many years, with a lot of younger people and a strong army presence. It is always a touching occasion and I felt great humility to see the men marching to the War Memorial to pay their respects on this special occasion."

Once at the war memorial, Callants president Henry laid the Gallipoli Comrades Wreath

Piper Jim Coltman then played a lament followed by bugler Colin Crozier with the 'Last Post'. A minute's silence was then broken by Jim's 'Reveille'.

And for piper and KOSB stalwart Jim, whose grandfather was in the medical core of the 4th Battalion, it is a hugely important ceremony.
He told the Hawick News: "It is a great honour to take part in this ceremony, and I have done so for nearly 40 years. This ceremony still means a lot to the people of Hawick and I wouldn't miss it for the world."