Battles

Question 1

Battle of Loos 1915

Answer 1

1. 1 in 3 missing in Loo were Scottish
2. It was the first time gas was used and had little success
3. 5 Scots were awarded the Victoria Cross for valour at Loos
4. 20 Scottish regiments, 30,000 troops
5. 8 out of 12 battalions which lost over 500 men were Scottish
6. Indecisive battle - no closer to ending the war

Question 2

Battle of Somme 1916

Answer 2

1. Not much land gained
2. Weakened the German army spirit
3. Lessons were learned about tactics and use of tanks
4. 600,000 casualties overall, 60,000 on the first day 20,000 killed on the first day
5. 51 Scottish infantry divisions involved
6. 3 Scottish divisions - 9th, 15th, 51st highland divisions

Question 3

Battle of Arras 1917

Answer 3

1. 10 Scottish divisions
2. Attacked in waves - rather than all at once
3. 1/3rd of 159,000 casualties were Scottish
4. Well planned - gas stopped the German transport horses so they couldn’t move their guns
5. Developed “All Arms Battle Plan” using infantry, artillery, tanks and aircraft all at once which eventually helped win the war
6. New tactics were used and artillery did the job