higher history - scottish history, impact of the great war

when was world war 1

1914-1918

exact date of when britain declared war on germany

4th August 1914

from 1914-1918 how many Scots died in the war

100000-150000

when was archuduke franz ferdinand and his wife assassinated

28th june 1914

when was conscription introduced in scotland

january 1916

6 reasons why scots volunteered to fight

• chance to see the world

• peer pressure

• pals battalions

• patriotism

• better wages + job security

• escape poverty

in total, how many scots served within the armed forces during the war

690,000

by the end of 1915, how many scots volunteered for armed forces and what % of the british army was this

320,000 - 13% of total british army

what % of total british population did scotland make up

10%

what did the newspaper - The Scotsman say about the declaration of war and societal reaction

that it was met with great enthusiasm across Edinburgh

when did people expect the war to end by

over by christmas of 1914

by the end of august 1914, the Glasgow Herald reported that glasgows recruiting office in gallowgate has processed how many volunteers

20,000

by December 1914, what percentage of the male labour force of western scotland had signed up to the war

25%

what was the minimum pay for an infrantry soldier in 1914

7 shillings, 7 pence per week

why was the army seen as an attractive job in 1914?

higher pay, employment security, opportunity to break from drudgery of their working lives, chance to see the world

how many miners were laid off in Fife and Edinburgh by 4th August 1914

4500

by march 1915, what % of scottish coal miners had enlisted

20.7%

why was the mining industry disrupted at start of war

export markets were lost

example of an employer coercing workers to volunteer

Earl of Wemyss who threatened to dismiss any employee on his estates aged 18-30 who did not volunteer

examples of promises given by employers to encourage workers to volunteer

bonuses and guarantees of employment upon return from war, promise of land being given upon return from war

why was military tradition an important factor for motivating volunteering

volunteering provided an outlet for scots to express their national identity in a way that was distinct from british identity. regimental tartans were a powerful symbol of both local and national identity.

what % of countrys ministers had sons that had enlisted in the armed forces at the outbreak of war

90%

on 1st september 1914 what did glasgow council approve

the formation of a highland light infantry battalion that was made up of workers from the citys public transport system

what happened on the 7th september 1914

1102 motormen and conductors from the Glasgow Corporation Tramways department paraded through the streets behind a pipe band, wearing green Tramways unfiroms, to formally enlist in what would become known as the 15th Batallion of the Highland Light Infantry

what followed the introduction of the 15th battalion of the highland light infantry

introduction of the 16th and 17th battalion of the highland light infantry

what were pals battalions designed to do and encourage

designed to play on local rivalries and encourage towns to try ‘outdo’ each other with the number of recruits

rivalry with what city encouraged the introduction of 2 edinburgh raised batallions

glasgow

what was the name of the first battalion introduced in Edinburgh and what was it known as and why

the 15th Royal Scots - known as Cranstons Battalion, after Sir Robert Cranston

name of the 2nd battalion raised in Edinburgh

the 16th Royal Scots - McCraes Battalion

how many hearts players served with McCraes battalion

15

how many recruits did McCraes battalion gain in a week, with how many being Hearts Fans at start of war

1350 men, with 500 Hearts fans

what campaign was introduced to try shame men into volunteering

the white feather campaign

what was the white feather campaign

campaign were women were encouraged to present men who hadnt enlisted with white feathers as a symbol of cowardice to try shame them into volunteering

example of the white feather campaign impact

1914 - Edward Martindale in Ayrshire was only 16, and too young to serve in armed forces. Despite this, he was targetted by the white feather campaign and sent a box of feathers. Martindale signed up, lied about his age and was killed in action in March 1918.

what were non enlisting Hearts players known as

‘The White feathers of Midlothian’

what was some general challenges experienced in the trenches

infestations of rats and lice, flooding in bad weather, persistent mud, fear of death, noise of artillery bombardment

when was the battle of loos

25th september 1915

roughly how many scottish battalions took part in the battle of loos

36

how many scottish soldiers saw action at Loos

30,000

loos was the first battle experienced by what small ‘army’

kitcheners new army

what was used for the first time by the british army at the battle of loos

chlorine gas

who was commander of the british first corps at the time of loos

douglas haig

how long was the artillery bombardment used at loos

4 days

problem with the use of chlorine gas at loos

wind changed direction and blew back on the british army

battle plan of loos

artillery bombardment, then ‘creeping barrage’ technique

out of the 6 infantry divisions that were meant to cross no mans land after the artillery bombardment at loos, how many were scottish

2 - the 9th and 15th division

successes of the scottish regiments at the battle of loos

8th Gordon Highlanders reached 2nd line of german trenches just 3 hours after the attack began and the 7th Seaforth Highlanders and 5th Cameron Highlanders also took german trenches

what was the problem with the reserves at the battle of loos

Sir John French decided to remain in charge of reserves miles behind the front lines, so it was midday before the order for reserves to be brought to the front was delivered - reserves arrived at front british trenches the next day, allowing germans to bring their own reinforcements.