• This a source evaluation question and is worth
5 marks in the exam.
• There will be one ‘How Useful’ question in the
NAB and in the final exam.
• This question will always ask, ‘How useful is the source as evidence of…’
• In this question you must decide how useful the source is as historical evidence and you
must make this assessment clear in you answer (process).

• How useful is Source A as evidence of the experience of Scots on the Western Front?
In reaching a conclusion you should refer to:
the origin and possible purpose of the source;
the content of the source;
recalled knowledge.

In order to gain 5 marks you must consider the following:
Origin
• Who was the author and why are they are important in relation to the question.
• When was it written, if it is a primary or secondary source and how this effects its usefulness?
Purpose (Origin and Purpose= 2 marks)
• Why was it produced and what were its intentions? Why is this important in terms of the question.
(You have to explain why the origin and purpose of the source is important to judging how useful it is)
Content (2 marks)
• What are the key points mentioned in the source? You have to select quotes from the source and explain the quote in relation to the question. (Just like in a 10 mark question)
• Does the information make it useful?
• You can add in recall at this stage to develop any points from the source.
Recall (2 marks)
• Are there omissions to the content that affect its value? What has it missed out?
Limitations?
Process
• Answer the question- is the source useful when investigation…

Source A: from the diary of Private Thomas McCall, Cameron
Highlanders describing the attack at Loos, September, 1915.
• The soldier lying next to me gave a shout, saying, “My God! I’m done for”. His mate next to him asked where he was shot. He drew himself back and lifted his wounded pal’s kilt, then gave a laugh, saying, “Jock, ye’ll no die. Yer only shot through the fleshy part of the leg!” We moved on towards the village of
Loos, where machine guns were raking the streets and bayonetfighting was going on with Jerry (slang for Germans). Prisoners were being marshalled in batches to be sent under guard down the line. I came to a little restaurant. By the noise going on inside I thought they were killing pigs. I went inside and opened a door where blood was running out from underneath. I saw some Highlanders busy, having it out with Jerry with the bayonet.
How useful is Source A as evidence of the experience of Scots on the Western Front? 5 marks
In reaching a conclusion you should refer to:
• the origin and possible purpose of the source;
• the content of the source;
• recalled knowledge.

• In groups of 2-3, read through the source and discuss the following points:
• Origin- Who was the author and why are they are important in relation to the question.
• When was it written, if it is a primary or secondary source and how this effects its usefulness?
• Purpose- Why was it produced and what were its intentions? Why is this important in terms of the question.
• Content-Pick out 2 or 3 points from the source which makes the source useful in relation to the question.
• Recall-Discuss any recall that you could add to your source points or any recall for limitation purposes.
REMEMBER, IT MUST BE IN RELATION TO THE
QUESTION!!!

• OriginBy Private Thomas McCall who fought in the assault at the Battle of Loos with the Cameron Highlanders.
Useful as source is personal eyewitness account of the battle that became known as ‘the Scottish battle’ because of the number of soldiers involved in the battle and because of the high number of causalities experienced by the Scots.
• PurposeIt was a record of what had occurred at the assault on
Loos by a soldier of the Cameron Highlanders and what he experienced during the battle.
• Content-
• Soldiers experienced fear of injury – “My God, I’m done for”.
• Soldiers experienced camaraderie – “he lifted his wounded pal’s kilt then gave a laugh.”
• Soldiers experienced combat – “machine guns were raking the street and bayonet fighting was going on”.

(only 2 marks)
To develop source points:
• Military tradition of Scots: kilted regiments considered to be good soldiers.
• Scots contribution to battle of Loos: deserves to be called a Scottish battle owing to the large number of Scottish troops in action. 30,000 took part in the attack.
• One third of British casualties were Scottish at Loos.
What the source does not mention:
• Experience of Scots in Trenches: conditions such as trench foot, rats, etc.
• Experience of fighting and its effects: bombardment, shellshock, etc.
• Battle of the Somme: 3 Scottish divisions 9th, 15th [Scottish] and 51st
[Highland] took part as well as numerous Scottish battalions in other units: ie the Scots Guards in the Household Division. 51 Scottish infantry battalions took part in the Somme offensive at some time.
• Battle of Arras: Saw concentration of 44 Scottish battalions and 7
Scottish named Canadian battalions, attacking on the first day, making it the largest concentration of Scots to have fought together.
• One third of British casualties were Scottish at Arras.

Source A is a recruitment poster used in Scotland in the autumn of 1914.
How useful is Source A as evidence why so many young men joined the army in 1914?

Origin
A Scottish recruitment poster from 1914. War had broken out and the British army had very few soldiers. The government decided to launch a poster camping to encourage young men to sign up. Source is useful because it highlights one of the reasons, propaganda posters, why men volunteered for the army in 1914.
Purpose-
This posters purpose is to appeal to young Scots to try and persuade young men to join the army. These posters were used at a time when there was no conscription and all enlistment was voluntary in the UK.
Content-
• An appeal to patriotism- ‘your king and country need you’.
• An appeal to Scots- ‘the poster shows a kilted soldier standing guard in either France or Belgium (French street sign).
• An appeal to honour- ‘to protect the Empire and also to keep the promise made in the ‘scrap of paper’ to protect Belgium.

Recall-
To develop source points:
• Kitchener’s appeal for thousands of young men easily passed by rush to volunteer.
• Poster appeals to Scots Martial Traditions.
• Image of kiltie soldier a powerful one in early 20 th century
Scotland.
• By the end of the first week in Sep 1914, Glasgow had recruited more than 22,000 men.
• Scottish Pal’s Battalions- Tramways, McCrae’s and the Boys
Brigade.
• Highland regiments had played a big part in building British
Empire and were portrayed as heroes in comics and books.
What the source does not mention
• Other influences for joining – helping countrymen in danger, avoiding female/ family disapproval, escaping boring jobs, employers pressure, desire for excitement, get involved before the excitement is over by Christmas.