5th KOSB Awards and Decorations
L/Cpl Matthew Parker's subterranean encounter
Gallipoli, 1915
Granted to warrant Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers, and Men serving abroad with the 1/5th King's Own Scottish Borderers.
- Piper 556, Alexander Erskine (Langholm)
- Mentioned in Despatches for his work as a stretcher-bearer at Gallipoli.
- Private 1152, James Henderson (Moniaive)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal. On 12th July at Gallipoli he continually crossed the open with despatches under very heavy fire.
[Promoted to Sergeant]
- RSM 3401, Charles Johnson (Maxwelltown)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal for gallant behaviour in pushing forward supplies of bombs, water, etc, on 12th July.
[Post-WW1 commissioned Lieutenant & Quartermaster in 5th KOSB]
- CQMS 766, James Haining McCall (Lockerbie)
- Recognised for "very effective sniping whilst wounded and exposed."
- Private 516, Robert Morton (Kirkconnel)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal. During mining operations at Krithia Nullah he went down a counter-mine that had been exploded to find out what had happened to two officers who had gone down but not returned. He was pulled back to the surface unconscious, but on recovery insisted on going down again. After two hours he and three others were recovered. One of the latter never regained consciousness.
- Corporal 1250, Thomas Murdoch (Kirkconnel)
- Recognised for gallant conduct: wounded on 12th July in crossing the open several times with despatches.
Distinguished Conduct Medal: when attached to the 10th Scottish Rifles at Arras (8th March 1917) he twice doubled out into No Mans Land, bringing in an officer and a wounded comrade.
- Lance Corporal 1046, Matthew Parker (Sanquhar)
- Distinguished Conduct Medal. In mining operations at Krithia (14th September 1915) the gallery in which he was working broke through into an enemy counter-mine. By accurate fire he held off the Turks, who began firing and throwing bombs into the gallery, until he was driven back by fumes which extinguished all the lights. When the air cleared he returned and plugged up the breach under heavy fire. He thus enabled the charge to be fired which destroyed the enemy's gallery. His bravery and devotion to duty was very marked.
[Matthew Parker was promoted to Sergeant. He was killed in action during the 2nd Battle of Gaza, age 25]
- Corporal 1989, Edmund William Ross (born MacDuff, Banffshire)
- Mentioned in Despatches for careful, efficient, and tireless stretcher-bearing at Gallipoli.
[Post-WW1 commissioned Lieutenant in 5th KOSB]
- Corporal 698, Robert Wylie (Canonbie)
- Recognised for gallant conduct. On 12th July he volunteered to fetch bombs across the open, and repelled several counter-attacks.