The Overall Contribution of The Overall Contribution of Scottish Military PersonnelScottish Military Personnel

The Big PictureThe Big Picture

• Official estimates put the losses amongst Official estimates put the losses amongst Scottish soldiers at 73, 000. This figure is Scottish soldiers at 73, 000. This figure is likely to be a considerable underestimate likely to be a considerable underestimate because it doesn’t necessarily include-because it doesn’t necessarily include-

- those who simply disappeared- those who simply disappeared - those who died of wounds later- those who died of wounds later -it is based on the method of assuming that -it is based on the method of assuming that

Scots were 10% of the British population Scots were 10% of the British population and this figure is 10% of British casualties.and this figure is 10% of British casualties.

This figure also may include those who This figure also may include those who were were

listed as killed, but turned up later.listed as killed, but turned up later.

The Scottish National War The Scottish National War MemorialMemorial

The Scottish National War The Scottish National War MemorialMemorial• This contains the names of 148,218 of those who This contains the names of 148,218 of those who

served in all branches of the armed forces, “killed in served in all branches of the armed forces, “killed in the service of the Crown” but is likely to be an the service of the Crown” but is likely to be an overestimate as it includes those who served in overestimate as it includes those who served in Scottish regiments and died wearing Scottish Scottish regiments and died wearing Scottish uniforms, but were not necessarily Scots themselves.uniforms, but were not necessarily Scots themselves.

• The more commonly accepted figure is 100,000, The more commonly accepted figure is 100,000, though this, too, is likely to be an underestimate, though this, too, is likely to be an underestimate, according to Trevor Royle.according to Trevor Royle.

• Tom Devine states that of the 557,000 Scots who Tom Devine states that of the 557,000 Scots who enlisted in all services, 26.4% lost their lives, though enlisted in all services, 26.4% lost their lives, though Trevor Royle also disputes both these figures.Trevor Royle also disputes both these figures.

The Scottish RegimentsThe Scottish Regiments• The Royal Scots lost 11,213 dead, most or The Royal Scots lost 11,213 dead, most or

whom came from Edinburgh and the east of whom came from Edinburgh and the east of Scotland.Scotland.

• The Black Watch and Highland Light Infantry The Black Watch and Highland Light Infantry each lost c. 10,000 men.each lost c. 10,000 men.

• The Gordon Highlanders lost c. 9,000 men.The Gordon Highlanders lost c. 9,000 men.

• The 9The 9thth Scottish Division sustained losses of Scottish Division sustained losses of over 52,000 by the end of the war.over 52,000 by the end of the war.

• The 15The 15thth Scottish Division had lost over Scottish Division had lost over 45,000 men by the time they were stood 45,000 men by the time they were stood down at the end of hostilities.down at the end of hostilities.

• The city of Glasgow lost 18,000 men – 1 in The city of Glasgow lost 18,000 men – 1 in 57 of its population.57 of its population.

• The death toll in Dundee was 4,213 out of The death toll in Dundee was 4,213 out of a population of 180,000.a population of 180,000.

• Of the 13,568 men who volunteered from Of the 13,568 men who volunteered from the universities, 2,026 were killed on the universities, 2,026 were killed on active service.active service.

• Of the 6,712 men from the Isle of Lewis Of the 6,712 men from the Isle of Lewis who served, nearly 1,000 would fall on the who served, nearly 1,000 would fall on the battlefield, disappear or drown before the battlefield, disappear or drown before the guns fell silent.guns fell silent.

Many bodies were never found or Many bodies were never found or identified, so memorials in France and identified, so memorials in France and Belgium list the names of the missing.Belgium list the names of the missing.

The Thiepval Memorial to the The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the SommeMissing of the Somme

The Menin Gate Memorial to The Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing of the Ypres Salientthe Missing of the Ypres Salient

The Isle of Lewis War MemorialThe Isle of Lewis War Memorial

The Western IslesThe Western Isles

• Western Isles population in 1911-46,732Western Isles population in 1911-46,732

• UK population in 1911-40,831,000UK population in 1911-40,831,000

• Western Isles losses in WW1- 1,797Western Isles losses in WW1- 1,797

• UK losses in WW1-908,371UK losses in WW1-908,371

• % loss in Western Isles-3.843% loss in Western Isles-3.843

• % loss in UK-2.225% loss in UK-2.225

TolstaTolsta

• Tolsta is a small district on the Isle of Tolsta is a small district on the Isle of Lewis. It is north of Stornoway on the Lewis. It is north of Stornoway on the eastern coast of the island and in eastern coast of the island and in 1914 its primary industry was fishing.1914 its primary industry was fishing.

• In the census on 1911, the In the census on 1911, the population of Tolsta was 853, of population of Tolsta was 853, of which 400 were male.which 400 were male.

• By the Armistice, 11/11/18, Tolsta By the Armistice, 11/11/18, Tolsta had sent 231 of its men to war. 41 had sent 231 of its men to war. 41 were killed and never returned to were killed and never returned to this tiny community. this tiny community.

Tolsta TodayTolsta Today

Elsewhere…Elsewhere…

• Every community, geographical, social or Every community, geographical, social or professional, suffered losses in the Great Warprofessional, suffered losses in the Great War

- 11 of the Heart of Midlothian team who 11 of the Heart of Midlothian team who joined the 16joined the 16thth Royal Scots were killed, Royal Scots were killed, several on the first day of the Somme.several on the first day of the Somme.

- A total of 30 Scottish rugby internationalists A total of 30 Scottish rugby internationalists were killed, the highest casualty rate were killed, the highest casualty rate amongst the home nations.amongst the home nations.

- Pte John Scott of the Scots Greys, from Pte John Scott of the Scots Greys, from Eddleston, was killed while displaying Eddleston, was killed while displaying “conspicuous bravery” according to his C.O.“conspicuous bravery” according to his C.O.

The Bonchester Bridge War The Bonchester Bridge War MemorialMemorial

The Heart of Midlothian The Heart of Midlothian TeamTeam

The AftermathThe Aftermath• Even for those who survived the war itself, Even for those who survived the war itself,

many continued to suffer both physically and many continued to suffer both physically and psychologically afterwards and many psychologically afterwards and many experienced early deaths as a direct or experienced early deaths as a direct or indirect result of their wartime experiences.indirect result of their wartime experiences.

- Jimmy Crawford of McCrae’s 16Jimmy Crawford of McCrae’s 16thth Royal Scots Royal Scots was wounded in the hip near Contalmaison. was wounded in the hip near Contalmaison. He died of septic poisoning in March 1919. He died of septic poisoning in March 1919. He was only 21.He was only 21.

- Ralph Armstrong, also of McCrae’s, was Ralph Armstrong, also of McCrae’s, was wounded in the face in 1916 and never wounded in the face in 1916 and never recovered. He died insane in July 1925.recovered. He died insane in July 1925.

- At least 17 suicides have been identified At least 17 suicides have been identified amongst McCrae’s veterans in the 30 years amongst McCrae’s veterans in the 30 years after the war. There were probably more.after the war. There were probably more.