Scotland and the Impact of the Great War, 1914-1928
Exemplar 1
One ‘How far...’ question on issue 1 – ‘Scots on the Western Front’
One ‘How far...’ question on issue 2 – ‘Domestic impact of war: society and
culture’
One Comparison question on the issues above (or any of their sub-issues)
5. Scotland and the Impact of the Great War, 1914-1928
Study the sources below and then answer the questions which follow.
Source A: from Private 12768 Memoir Of A Tommy (The History Press 2009)
The declaration of war caused tremendous excitement throughout the country, resulting in
magnificent displays of patriotism. I was excited as I knew it would mean a terrible fight. The
spirit of adventure was always strong in me, and as news came of the departure of the British
Expeditionary Force, ‘a thin line of Khaki’ against the massive German columns, I knew the
time had come when I could not live at peace as a civilian.
On September 8th, along with a friend, Andy Johnstone, I went to the recruiting office in
Cathcart Road, and there we signed on for ’3 years or the duration’. We were sworn in and
passed fit by the doctor; there was no real medical examination. In these early years of the
war, recruits had the choice of regiment they wished to join and I decided on the Queen’s Own
Cameron Highlanders – the 79th foot. Everybody was in high spirits, for this was part of
‘Kitchener’s Army’; no need for compulsion here, and no conscientious objectors.
Source B: from War Resisters and Anti-Conscription in Scotland: an ILP Perspective (in
Scotland and the Great War edited by C.M.M. MacDonald and E.W. McFarland, Tuckwell
Press1999).
By the end of January 1915, the recruitment rate had fallen from 300,000 to around 120,000
per month. To conscriptionists and supporters of compulsory military service, such news was a
godsend. If the matter had been left to the Scottish press, the decision to introduce compulsory
military service would have been a foregone conclusion. The Glasgow Herald made no
apologies for stating that if voluntarism did not work, then conscription was the only alternative.
Political opposition to conscription had been growing and the trade union movement came out
against it. Not a single delegate spoke in favour of it at the Trade Union Congress conference
in 1915 which unanimously rejected any policy of forced service. By January 1916, the Scottish
Trade Union Congress passed an anti-conscription resolution by sixty-six votes to forty-six, and
the Glasgow Labour Party and the Scottish Labour Conference also rejected conscription.
James Maxton argued that the war brought with it new opportunities to proclaim the socialist
message.
Source C: from ‘The Working Class Movement Library, No- Conscription Fellowship ‘ 25th
March 2010
The No Conscription Fellowship was formed in the autumn of 1914 to support those who
objected to taking up. The grounds of objection varied with some objecting on religious
grounds, whilst others were opposed on political grounds. Few at this point believed that the
government would introduce conscription, which had never happened before in any previous
war. By July 1915 it was becoming clear that the government was going to introduce
conscription. The NCF established a network of branches across the country, including
Edinburgh with J.P.M. Millar as Secretary. The NCF worked in cooperation with the
Independent Labour Party, the Society of Friends and supported the Women’s Peace Crusade.
Women were extensively involved in the NCF. The NCF had a press department, which
constantly sought to draw the attention of the public to the ill-treatment and brutality many COs
were subject to. At tribunals in Glasgow conscientious objectors were dealt with particularly
harshly and their cases were unlikely to be successful despite the best efforts of the NCF.
Source D: from Scottish Popular Politics from Radicalism to Labour by W. Hamish Fraser
(2000).
When war broke out the leadership of the Independent Labour Party in Scotland quickly
adopted an anti war stance and parted company with the Labour Party. It had support from
much of the Clydeside trade union leadership. The introduction of conscription made the ILP a
focus for widespread protest alongside the No-Conscription Fellowship and the Women’s
Peace Crusade launched in Glasgow by Helen Crawfurd.
The NCF worked to protect the rights of conscientious objectors; offices were founded
throughout the UK, including Edinburgh. Contact was maintained with the hundreds of men
who resisted conscription, many of whom had been arrested and imprisoned. The NCF
frequently arranged to help with COs defence at tribunals and courts, not always successfully.
If the verdict went against the CO the NCF maintained contact with their families and provided
for their dependents in cases of need. They earned a national reputation, highlighting the
position and treatment of the COs in the prisons and camps in the press.
Questions
Marks
1
How far does Source A explain the reasons why so many Scots volunteered to fight in
the Great War?
Use the source and recalled knowledge.
2
How far does Source B illustrate the issues in the debate over conscription?
Use the source and recalled knowledge.
3
10
10
To what extent do Sources C and D agree about conscientious objection to the war in
Scotland?
Compare the sources overall and in detail
5
Marking Instructions
Question 1
How far does Source A explain the reasons why so many Scots
volunteered to fight in the Great War?
The candidate makes a judgment on how far Source A explains the reasons why so
many Scots volunteered to fight in the Great War in terms of:
Points from the source which show the candidate has interpreted the significant views:
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The war caused tremendous excitement across the country which resulted in
magnificent displays of patriotism.
War appealed to the author directly as he knew it would mean a terrible (hard)
fight.
The image of the small BEF against the massive German columns appealed to
his spirit of adventure and he realized he could not continue in civilian life.
Pride in being able to join a regiment of his choice.
Points from recall which support and develop those in source:
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The outbreak of war in August 1914 saw an immediate and widespread response
in Scotland. Thousands of young Scottish men rushed to join up.
Belief that it was a just war and would be of short duration.
Scotland produced more volunteers in proportion to population than any other
part of the U.K.
Of the 157 battalions that made up the BEF 22 were Scottish regiments.
Scots were proud of their regiments with their kilts and tartan, and there was
great pride in local regiments.
320,589 Scots volunteered for Kitchener’s New Armies. (13% of those who
volunteered in 1914-15 were Scots)
Enthusiasm for war was seen in formation of ‘pals battalions’ for example in
Glasgow the 15th HLI represented the tram workers, the 16th the Boys Brigade,
the 17th the Chamber of Commerce.
In Edinburgh similar units were formed and became the 11th, 12th and 13th
Royal Scots. The 15th and 16th Royal Scots - Cranston’s Battalion and McCrae’s
Battalion.
Spirit of groups like the Hearts Football squad.
Points from recall which offer a wider contextualisation such as:
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Military tradition - there was a strong belief that the Scots were natural soldiers
that somehow soldiering was in the Scottish blood.
Scots were willing soldiers with a strong volunteer tradition with the highest rates
of volunteering in the UK in 1914.
Involvement in the local territorial force was an important part of Scottish life.
Scots were highly patriotic and loyal and reliable and always ready to defend their
country.
Other reasons for joining such as - the attraction of a regular wage/ escape from
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poverty.
Influence of women – encouragement from wives/mothers etc.
Any other relevant points.
Question 2
How far does Source B illustrate the issues in the debate over
conscription?
The candidate makes a judgement on how far Source B illustrates the issues in the
debate over conscription in terms of:
Points from the source which show the candidate has interpreted the significant views:
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Recruitment had fallen from 300,000 to 120,000 per month and this news was a
godsend to conscriptionists and supporters of compulsory military service.
The Scottish press believed that if voluntarism was not working then conscription
was the only alternative.
Trade Union Congress and Scottish Trade Union Congress opposed conscription.
Glasgow Labour Party and Scottish Labour Conference rejected conscription.
Points from recall which support and develop those in source:
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High level of recruitment fell and bad news from the front led to growth of support
for compulsory service.
Socialists were opposed to war seeing it as a capitalist war in which worker would
be killing worker unnecessarily. War seen as being fuelled by governments at the
mercy of greedy industrialists and bankers from Britain, France, Germany and
America. Workers were thus being exploited and socialists internationally were
being called upon to oppose the war.
Pacifism in action for example the Peace Society. People such as Reverend
James Barr who campaigned against the war believing it was morally wrong.
Position of some women, like Sylvia Pankhurst and Helen Crawfurd who opposed
the war and conscription on political and moral grounds.
Conscientious Objectors: People objected to the war for religious, ethical or
political reasons.
Other side of the debate - recruiters urging men not in uniform to join up.
Pressure put on at football matches and by women.
Formation of the No Conscription Fellowship (NCF).
The NCF earned a national reputation highlighting the position and treatment of
‘conchies’.
Dundee would become the main Scottish centre for the NCF in Scotland during
the war.
Independent Labour Party opposed the war. They believed in a brotherhood of
workers and saw the war as a capitalist plot.
Campaign by ‘Forward’. They strongly criticised the Labour Party’s decision to
back Kitchener’s recruitment campaign.
Parliamentary Labour Party’s support for war caused rift with the ILP.
Position of other parties – the issue of conscription rocked the Liberal Party. Most
Scottish Liberals opposed conscription believing in the principle of voluntarism.
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Asquith’s reluctance to include married men; Lloyd George’s insistence. Many
were appeased by Military Services Act clauses dealing with objection to serving
on the grounds of conscience.
Failure of the alternative to conscription, the ‘Derby Scheme’ adopted in autumn
1915. It encouraged all men between the ages of 19 and 41 to voluntarily state
that they were fit to fight but they would only be called up for service when
necessary. Abandoned December, after recruiting around 350,000 additional
troops.
Conservatives pushed for coalition and supported conscription.
Position of Trade Unions - socialist anti- war position added to worries over
dilution and fear that conscription would be extended to vital wartime industries
caused tension.
From the beginning of the war Glasgow was the leading militant city, the major
centre of mass support for the anti-war and anti-conscription movement.
ILP members were frequently attacked and beaten up by war supporters and
some were prosecuted on various pretexts.
Anti-war protests.
Points from recall which offer a wider contextualisation such as:
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Kitchener’s opposition to conscription.
Ramsay MacDonald, leader of the Labour Party opposed the war and resigned on
6th August 1914 others in the party believed that the party should give total
support to the war.
Military Service Acts of January and May 1916 – details.
Exemptions and conscientious objection.
Tribunals and treatment of ‘conchies’.
Prosecution of ILP on various pretexts.
Contribution of James Maxton.
Contribution of John McLean.
Women’s Peace Crusade – contribution of women including Helen Crawfurd.
Any other relevant points.
Question 3
To what extent do Sources C and D agree about conscientious objection
to the war in Scotland?
The candidate makes a judgment on how far Sources C and D agree about
conscientious objection to the war in Scotland:
Overall, Source C and Source D agree that there was opposition to conscription with
support and help for conscientious objectors provided by organisations such as the ILP
and the NCF in Scotland.
Points from Source C
Points from Source D
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The NCF was formed to support
those who objected to taking up
arms and established a network
of branches including Edinburgh.
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The NCF worked to protect the
rights of conscientious objectors
and had offices across the
country including Edinburgh.
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The NCF worked in cooperation
with other organisations such as
the Independent Labour Party,
the Society of Friends and the
Women’s Peace Crusade.
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The introduction of conscription
made the ILP a focus for
widespread protest alongside the
NCF and the Women’s Peace
Crusade.
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NCF press department drew the
public’s attention to the illtreatment and brutality many COs
were subject to.
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NCF earned a national reputation
highlighting the position and
treatment of COs in the press.
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Source C states that at tribunals
in Glasgow conscientious
objectors were dealt with
particularly harshly and their
cases were unlikely to be
successful.
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Source D highlights the work
done by the NCF in helping the
COs such as arranging their
defence at tribunals and that they
were not always successful