Three: Sergeant A. Middlemas, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, who was killed in action at Gallipoli in the futile attempt to ‘break out’ from the Turkish encirclement at Cape Helles on 12 July 1915

1914-15 Star (53 Sjt. A. Middlemas. K.O. Sco: Bord:); British War and Victory Medals (53 Sjt. A. Middlemas. K.O. Sco. Bord.) extremely fine (3) £140-£180

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A Collection of Medals for the Gallipoli Campaign.

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Andrew Middlemas served with the 1/4th King’s Own Scottish Borderers at Gallipoli from 4 June 1915. An article published in The Kelso Chronicle on 13 August 1915, states:
‘Sergt. Andrew J. Middlemas, 1/4th K.O.S.B., reported from the Dardanelles as having been missing since 12 July, is the eldest son of Baillie Middlemas, aerated water manufacturer, Anna Cottage. Sergt. Middlemas, who is 27 years of age, has served for nearly 12 years in the local company of Territorials, and is a keen soldier, while he is also reckoned to be one of the best rifle shots in the Battalion.’

Initially reported as missing in action, Middlemas was later confirmed to have been killed on 12 July 1915 during the disastrous final attempt made by the 52nd (Lowland) Division to break the Turkish defences at Helles. Charging alongside the 1/5th K.O.S.B. in four ‘waves’, the Hawick Territorials were decimated by accurate machine-gun fire. With combined casualty figures of 805 men, 12 July 1915 later came to be regarded as one of the darkest days in the history of the Scottish Borders. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Turkey.

Sold with copied research including an image of the recipient in military uniform.