LEADING figures in Gourock came together at the war memorial to remember the hundreds of local men who lost their lives in one of the most infamous battles in the First World War.

Once again former councillor Jim Hunter organised the moving tribute to all those died at Achi Baba.

He was joined by members of the Gourock Community Council who also laid a wreath in their memory.

The battle was fought as part of the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign which claimed 300 Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders soldiers from Gourock and 4,000 dead or wounded in the battle.

(Image: George Munro)

Former councillor Jim Hunter, who laid a wreath in behalf of the town's Gourock Pensioners club, said: "It is important to remember all those who lost their lives in the town. The Gourock Argyll and Sutherland Highlanderes were wiped out."

Some of those young men who enlisted were as young of 15, having pretended to be older to join up.

The Allied casualty figure at the battle on July 12 1915  totalled 4,000 dead or wounded in the Turkish peninsula.

It was part of a disastrous year long military campaign in Turkey launched by the allies to try to defeat the Ottoman Empire, with the driving force behind it, the then First Lord of the Admiralty Winston Churchhill.

The allied forces were trying to capture the Achi Baba hill in the Gallipoli peninsula. 

This year Jim was joined by members of the Gourock Community Council to lay floral tributes.

Secretary Geraldine Harron said: "It is a great privilege and honour to remember those from Gourock who sacrificed their lives and it is important that we continue to do this on the anniversary.

"We are very proud of the Gourock War Memorial and all those whose are on it."

Newly elected community councillor Daniel Cassidy also felt it was important to take part.

He added: "We want to pay our respects to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders who lost their lives. I think that is a duty when you are on the community council."