recruitment

Question 1

Scots volunteered because of peer pressure

Answer 1

Recruitment stalls were set up at jobs and workplaces so people could be pulled along with the crowd and join up.

for example, Hearts FC supporters were all encouraged to join McCrae’s battalion after 11 of the team joined up

Question 2

Scots volunteered because they wanted jobs and a steady wage

Answer 2

For low-skilled Scots, the 7 shillings 7 pence was more money than low-skilled or apprentice jobs so joining up was more appealing to them

Question 3

Scots volunteered because of a sense of adventure

Answer 3

Most men or young Scots had never left the country and were driven by the idea that they could go with their friends and that they would be home by Christmas

Question 4

Scots volunteered impulsively without a second thought because they thought it was a good opportunity

Answer 4

Grocery shop assistant Robert Irvine stated “I wanted to escape from the humdrum life behind the grocery counter and see a bit of the country”.

Question 5

Scots volunteered due to guilt

Answer 5

The ‘White feather’ campaign was able to guilt-trip men into joining up by presenting them with a white feather which is a symbol of cowardice.

For example, Edward Martingale for Langs, Ayrshire who joined when he was 16 after being targeted and then died in action

Question 6

Scots volunteered because of Government propaganda

Answer 6

Recruitment offices and posters such as Lord Kitchener’s “Join your country’s army” poster could be seen all over the country and was a big motivator for men

Question 7

Scots volunteered because of Pals Battalions

Answer 7

Men thought it would be better to join up with their friends. Pals Battalions raised Scottish recruitment numbers by 5%.

Question 8

Scots volunteered because of Britain’s alliance to defend Belgium

Answer 8

The War Propaganda Bureau ran stories such as babies heads being used as footballs beaten with bayonets.

Scots believed these headlines and wanted to defend Belgium and honour the commitment.

Question 9

Scots volunteered because they wanted to join their local regiments

Answer 9

Scots took great pride in their local regiments and wanted to be a part of the tradition.

For example, in Aberdeen there was the Gordon Highlanders, the North East had the Seaforth Highlanders and Moray, and Dundee had the Black Watch

Question 10

Scots volunteered due to a sense of duty and patriotism

Answer 10

In Scotland, posters of men wearing kilts and holding bagpipes could be seen as an attempt to directly encourage Scottish men to join up

Question 11

Reasons why Scots volunteered

Answer 11

• peer pressure
• stable job and wage
• adventure
• impulse
• guilt
• government propaganda
• pals battalions
• Britains alliance to Belgium
• local regiments
• duty and patriotism