224554 Pte. David Fowler British Army 1/5th Btn. Royal Scots Fusiliers from:Catrine, Ayrshire (d.12th July 1915) David Fowler was born on 17th February, 1895, in Catrine, Ayrshire. I do not know when he enlisted, but on the 21st May, 1915, he and his battalion embarked for Gallipoli from Liverpool on board RMS Mauretania. They arrived in Mudros, Greece, on 29th May briefly before moving on to Gallipoli on 7th June.
Lead by Lieutenant-Colonel J.B. Pollok-McCall, the battalion numbered around 900 men. It would have been a baptism of fire for David as the historians tell us that their first rest camp was heavily shelled. The battalion was put into the front line almost right away to relieve units of the 29th Division, resulting in many casualties of which David was not one.
For a month, the battalion waited in rest camps (that would not have afforded much rest) until allied victories won the Gulley Ravine, clearing a path to Krithia. It was this final push on the Turkish front between Kereves Dere and Achi Baba nullah that brought David's life and story to a close.
For the battle, henceforth known as "The Attempt on Achi Baba", the 155th Brigade formed the centre of a staggered three-prong attack. The 5th Battalion (David's) were in brigade reserve. The centre attack comprised of four waves, and on the fourth wave General Erskine sent in two companies of the 5th Battalion to support the 5th King's Own Scottish Borderers. It is entirely likely that David was one of those men sent forward, for on that day he was killed in action.
His name, among many others, can be found on the Helles Memorial. It's sad to say that the only story I can contribute are the cold facts.
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