The Era Of The Great War #1: Scots And Voluntary Recruitment Flashcards
How many Brits had joined the army by 1914?
1 million
How many Brits had joined the army by the end of 1915?
2.5 milliom
How many Scots had joined the army by the end of 1915?
325,000
What percentage of British males had joined the army by the end of WW1?
22%
By the end of August 1914, how many Scots had enlisted at the enlistment office at Gallowgate?
20,000
What was the Edwardian Pysche?
Brits believed in imperial supremacy, meaning that they believed that they were supreme in every way (empire, army…)
What was “For King And Country”?
Another example of British patriotism. The idea that Brits were willing to die defending their king and their country.
Who were G.A Henty and Rider Haggard?
Writers who wrote books primarily for boys making war/battle sound glorious and honourable
What 3 events further engrained the idea of British supremacy and patriotism?
- Boer War
- Seige of Mafeking
- Fashoda Incident
What did Duff Cooper say about patriotism in WW1?
“It was generally felt that war was a glorious affair and that Britain always won”
What advertisement used peer pressure to encourage men to enlist?
The Petticoats Advertisement in the Times
What was the White Feather Movement?
Women would pin white feathers onto un-uniformed men in an attempt to emasculate them and shame them into enlisting.
Where did the White Feather Movement begin to spread?
Despite it originating it Britain, it soon spread to other nations on the empire
Why did the White Feather Movement become a problem for the Government?
It began to pressure public servants to enlist who were essential to keep the country running (teachers, doctors, judges etc.)
Describe the case of RIFLEMAN JAMES CUTMORE.
- Exempt from conscription due to having 3 young daughters
- His attempt to volunteer in 1914 was rejected due to his short sightedness
- In 1916, while walking home, a woman part of the white feather movement pressured him into joining
- He enlisted the next day (at this point, they did not care for shortsightedness)
- All that was wanted was a body to stop a shell - which Cutmore became in Feb 1918
- He died on 23/3/18 after being hit by a shell
How did peer pressure lead to voluntary enlistment?
Men feared being seen as cowardly, dishonourable, and unpatriotic
What was a ‘Pals Battalion’?
A battalion made up of entire communities (friends, sports teams, families, colleagues, etc)
Why did Pals Battalions work as a recruitment method?
Men would be more likely to sign up if they knew they could do so with people they liked and knew
What was the danger of Pals Battalions?
If a battalion made a mistake, most if not all would die and so an entire community of men would be swept up
How many Pals Battalions were there in the UK?
Over 300
How did the government feel about Pals Battalions?
They encouraged them
Difference between Pals Battalions in Scotland VS England?
Informal in Scotland, Formal in England
Two examples of Scottish Pals Battalions and who they were made up of?
- 15th Highland Light Infantry: Tram Workers in Glasgow
- 16th Royal Scots / McRaes Battalion: 16 Hearts of Midlothian Players and 500 supporters/ticket holders
How many could be in a battalion?
Up to 800
How many battalions in a brigade?
4 (so up to 3200 men)
What is Propoganda?
A form of communication that influences people to join a movement
How many propoganda posters did Britain produce by the end of 1915? (1914 but I think 1915)
12million
What was the main form of propaganda?
Posters
Example of a propoganda poster
Lord Kitchener’s “Your Country Needs You”
How did the fear of unemployment contribute to voluntary recruitment?
Despite unemployment being low, the fear of losing their jobs made many enlist
Give an example of fear of unemployment leading to voluntary recruitment.
According to Michael Lynch, 36% of miners in a vulnerable coalfield in Lothian enlisted
How did Pressure from employers result in voluntary recruitment?
Many were scared they would lose their job if they did not enlist
Give an example of pressure from employers leading to voluntary recruitment.
The Earl of Wemyss threatened to dismiss any employee on his estates aged 18-30 who did not volunteer
What was Stevenson’s quote about the innocence of volunteers?
“innocence of a generation”
When was the last war between major powers before WW1?
The Franco-Russian War in 1871
How did the fact that the last war between major powers was the Franco-Russian War of 1871 contribute to the innocence of volunteers?
A whole generation of men had not experienced the horrors of war, and so had a great lack of understanding of the dangers and so they were ignorant of the fate before them
How did a previous lack of war technology contribute to innocence if volunteers?
Advanced war technology only came around during WW1, so many men were unable to realise that the war would be very aggressively fought with advanced weapons
What sort of weapons were used before WW1?
Bayonets, Bows and Arrows, Cannons (less advanced)
What were some weapons that were only just beginning to be used in WW1?
- Machine guns
- Tanks
- Grenades
What is Scottish Martial Tradition?
This refers to the idea that Scots are experienced in war and have many symbols today that originated on the battlefield
Give 2 example of previous conflicts that inspired Scottish Martial Tradition
- Wars of Independence
- Jacobite Rebellion
What are some Scottish regiments that were military symbols?
- Kilts
- Bagpipes
- Tartan
How did Scottish Martial Tradition result in voluntary recruitment?
Many Scots felt it was their duty to fight for Scotland, as they had done before. Quite patriotic
What was a local recruiting regiment inspired by Scottish Martial Tradition?
The Gordon Highlanders who recruited from the North East
How did innocence of volunteers affect Scottish Martial Tradition and so voluntary recruitment?
A generation of men were unaware of the horrors of war, and so many Scots specifically felt very patriotic and that their duty was to continue Scottish Martial Tradition
How many Scots enlisted in WW1 altogether?
550,000
