WW1 in Scotland
Case study
McCrae’s Battalion
Aim - To investigate how McCrae’s Battalion was recruited in Scotland
Source A
The Hearts first team shortly after enlisting, 27th November 1914
For the first two years of the war many men wanted to volunteer to join the
armed forces and willingly enlisted.
Many men signed up with their friends or their work colleagues, creating what
became known as “Pals Battalions”.
Rather than being scattered across different regiments, these “Pals Battalions”
allowed volunteers to fight alongside men they knew as friends or colleagues. In
the end, this was to have devastating consequences as men saw their closest mates
gunned down beside them – indeed, the idea of “Pals
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Battalions” died along with the men during the First World War.
In the cities of Scotland, football became a target for recruitment. This was
particularly true during the first few months of the war when thousands of young
men who had not signed up could be seen crowding into football matches.
Source B
Newspapers of the time argued that football clubs should forget sport and
encourage their players and supporters to enlist in the armed forces. The Evening
News claimed that:
“This is no time for football. The young men who play football and those who
look on have better work to do. They are summoned to leave their sport and play
their part in a greater game. That game is War, for life and death.”
Source C
A letter to the Glasgow Herald agreed, stating:
“A 30,000 crowd is a poor compliment to those noble fellows who have gone to
the front. What does it matter about Rangers or Celtic when the greatest of all
internationals is being played on the continent?”
One team in particular has been associated with its support for the war effort:
Heart of Midlothian. By late 1914, Hearts had only suffered one defeat in sixteen
league matches, and many thought that the team was destined for great things.
However, popular opinion was turning against the Scottish Football Association
and the players who chose to play sport rather than fight the Germans.
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Source D
Thomas Forsyth, Chairman of Airdrieonians, had strong views on the subject:
“I am much disappointed that in this present crisis no step has been taken by the
SFA to lend their help to the country. Playing football while our men are fighting
is repugnant and, unless some action is forthcoming soon, I will resign my position
and take no further part in the game”.
Source E
Sir George McCrae, a volunteer soldier, obtained permission to
raise and command a new battalion in Edinburgh – the 16th
Royal Scots, better known now as McCrae’s Battalion. In a
speech given at the Usher Hall in November of 1914, he
proclaimed:
“This unit will be characterised by such a spirit of excellence that the rest of
Lord Kitchener’s army will be judged by our standard!”
Source F
His recruitment drive was given a huge boost when 13 Hearts players signed
up. In the following week, 600 Hearts supporters had enlisted too, along with more
players and backroom staff. In the Christmas Pantomime of 1914 at the Kings
Theatre, a verse was read out:
“Do not ask where Hearts are playing and then look at me askance / If it’s
football that you’re wanting, you must come with us to France”
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WW1 in Scotland
As McCrae’s Battalion grew,
the entire first and reserve
Hearts team, plus several
board members, staff and
hundreds
of
supporters
signed up.
Fans and players from other
nearby clubs enlisted too, including Hibernian, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline.
Here was an example of men volunteering to fight out of duty, patriotism and
team spirit, and McCrae was delighted. His men fought with bravery and strength,
but the trenches of the Western Front were no less murderous for these footballers
and fans than they were for everyone else. On the first day of the Battle of the
Somme, McCrae’s Battalion lost 12 officers and 573 soldiers. Today, there is a
memorial cairn to their sacrifice at Contalmaison on the River Somme.
Were it not for the First World War,
perhaps Hearts rather than Rangers or
Celtic would have become to dominant
force in Scottish football.
Indeed,
when
Hearts’
1914
title
challenge died along with the players
who had left to serve their country,
the Evening News bitterly observed:
“Between
them
the
two
leading
Glasgow clubs have not sent a single
prominent player to the Army. There
is only one football champion in Scotland, and its colours are maroon and khaki.”
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WW1 in Scotland
Whatever might have happened to Scottish football had the war not changed
events, it is clear to see that the power of football loyalties to motivate men to
volunteer to join the army cannot be underestimated.
Tasks
1. What was a “Pals Battalion”?
2. Why were they stopped after the First World War?
3. Why did football become a target for recruitment?
4. Describe the views of Sources B and C about football during the First World
War.
5. Who was Sir George McCrae and who volunteered to join his battalion?
6. What effect did McCrae’s Battalion have on Scottish football?
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Source G
A recruiting leaflet for McCrae’s Battalion, November 1914.
Extension Task
Evaluate the usefulness of Source G as evidence of reasons why many Scots
volunteered to join the army in the first years of World War 1.
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(5 marks)
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