Issue 1 - Scots on the Western Front Flashcards
Scotland on the eve of the Great War. Political, social and economic conditions. Martial traditions. Voluntary recruitment. Experience of Scots on Western Front: Battles of Loos and the Somme. Kilted regiments. Role of Scottish military personnel in terms of commitment, casualties, leadership and overall contribution to the military effort.
What cities are in the Central Belt of Scotland?
Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen
What were Scotland’s key industries?
Shipbuilding, coal mining, iron and steel making and jute industry.
Where was shipbuilding based?
On the River Clyde.
How many tonnes of shipping were launched on the River Clyde in 1913?
750,000 tonnes.
How many tonnes of steel were Scottish steel towns producing each year by 1914?
Over 1 million tonnes.
What percentage of the world’s ships were built on the Clyde by 1914?
Over 20%
Where was the centre of Scotland’s jute making industry?
Dundee.
What was jute used for during WW1?
To make the sandbags that lined the rows of trenches.
How many people in Dundee were employed in making jute in 1914?
Over tens of thousands.
How many jute mills were in Dundee?
70.
What party controlled Scotland in 1914?
The Liberal Party.
Why did people in Scotland support the Liberal Party before WW1? (2 reasons)
- The Liberals seemed to support the working man (only men had the vote at this time in Britain).
- The Liberals appeared to want to help people improve their life (Old Age Pensions, Unemployment benefits and even a minimum wage).
What was Scotland like as a country before 1914?
People thought of themselves as British first. They were happy to be part of Britain and rulers of a large empire overseas.
However, they did have pride in Scotland’s long history.
What percentage of Scottish soldiers in WW1 were killed?
25%
In 1914 the British army was entirely voluntary. True or False?
True.
Who began the recruiting campaign?
Lord Kitchener.
How many men volunteered in the first 3 months of the recruiting campaign in Britain?
900,000.
More Scots volunteered in proportion to the size of the population than any other area in the UK. True or False?
True.
What were the main reasons that Scots joined? (6 reasons)
Patriotism, Xenophobia, Local loyalties/pals battalions, Opportunity, Peer pressure and Economic necessity.
What role did Patriotism play?
Patriotic appeal of recruiting posters with, ‘Defend the Glory of the Empire’
Popular histories of Scotland’s heroic past - The Wars of Independence (Wallace and Bruce).
Military symbols such as the kilt and the bagpipe were important in parts of Scottish identity.
What role did Xenophobia play?
Anti-German hysteria played a part in recruitment.
What role did Local Loyalties/Pals Battalions play?
Attraction of setting out on a great adventure with your friends (knew that if they joined together, they would stay together).
Football loyalties became a target for recruitment - when 13 Hearts players signed up, in 6 days, 600 Hearts supports joined them (McCrae’s Battalion).
What role did Opportunity play?
The opportunity to see new places and countries and perform heroic deeds (and quite possibly to leave behind a boring or difficult job).
The war was not expected to last long and there was a fear of missing out.
What role did Peer Pressure play?
Propaganda - posters, newspapers, etc.
The recruiting campaign emphasised to young men the desire of women to see them join up. - “Women of Britain Say Go!”
The White Feather Campaign.
