The Era Of The Great War #1: Scots And Voluntary Recruitment

Question 1

How many Brits had joined the army by 1914?

Answer 1

1 million

Question 2

How many Brits had joined the army by the end of 1915?

Answer 2

2.5 milliom

Question 3

How many Scots had joined the army by the end of 1915?

Answer 3

325,000

Question 4

What percentage of British males had joined the army by the end of WW1?

Answer 4

22%

Question 5

By the end of August 1914, how many Scots had enlisted at the enlistment office at Gallowgate?

Answer 5

20,000

Question 6

What was the Edwardian Pysche?

Answer 6

Brits believed in imperial supremacy, meaning that they believed that they were supreme in every way (empire, army…)

Question 7

What was “For King And Country”?

Answer 7

Another example of British patriotism. The idea that Brits were willing to die defending their king and their country.

Question 8

Who were G.A Henty and Rider Haggard?

Answer 8

Writers who wrote books primarily for boys making war/battle sound glorious and honourable

Question 9

What 3 events further engrained the idea of British supremacy and patriotism?

Answer 9

• Boer War
• Seige of Mafeking
• Fashoda Incident

Question 10

What did Duff Cooper say about patriotism in WW1?

Answer 10

“It was generally felt that war was a glorious affair and that Britain always won”

Question 11

What advertisement used peer pressure to encourage men to enlist?

Answer 11

The Petticoats Advertisement in the Times

Question 12

What was the White Feather Movement?

Answer 12

Women would pin white feathers onto un-uniformed men in an attempt to emasculate them and shame them into enlisting.

Question 13

Where did the White Feather Movement begin to spread?

Answer 13

Despite it originating it Britain, it soon spread to other nations on the empire

Question 14

Why did the White Feather Movement become a problem for the Government?

Answer 14

It began to pressure public servants to enlist who were essential to keep the country running (teachers, doctors, judges etc.)

Question 15

Describe the case of RIFLEMAN JAMES CUTMORE.

Answer 15

• 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

Question 16

How did peer pressure lead to voluntary enlistment?

Answer 16

Men feared being seen as cowardly, dishonourable, and unpatriotic

Question 17

What was a ‘Pals Battalion’?

Answer 17

A battalion made up of entire communities (friends, sports teams, families, colleagues, etc)

Question 18

Why did Pals Battalions work as a recruitment method?

Answer 18

Men would be more likely to sign up if they knew they could do so with people they liked and knew

Question 19

What was the danger of Pals Battalions?

Answer 19

If a battalion made a mistake, most if not all would die and so an entire community of men would be swept up

Question 20

How many Pals Battalions were there in the UK?

Answer 20

Over 300

Question 21

How did the government feel about Pals Battalions?

Answer 21

They encouraged them

Question 22

Difference between Pals Battalions in Scotland VS England?

Answer 22

Informal in Scotland, Formal in England

Question 23

Two examples of Scottish Pals Battalions and who they were made up of?

Answer 23

• 15th Highland Light Infantry: Tram Workers in Glasgow
• 16th Royal Scots / McRaes Battalion: 16 Hearts of Midlothian Players and 500 supporters/ticket holders

Question 24

How many could be in a battalion?

Answer 24

Up to 800

Question 25

How many battalions in a brigade?

Answer 25

4 (so up to 3200 men)

Question 26

What is Propoganda?

Answer 26

A form of communication that influences people to join a movement

Question 27

How many propoganda posters did Britain produce by the end of 1915? (1914 but I think 1915)

Answer 27

12million

Question 28

What was the main form of propaganda?

Answer 28

Posters

Question 29

Example of a propoganda poster

Answer 29

Lord Kitchener’s “Your Country Needs You”

Question 30

How did the fear of unemployment contribute to voluntary recruitment?

Answer 30

Despite unemployment being low, the fear of losing their jobs made many enlist

Question 31

Give an example of fear of unemployment leading to voluntary recruitment.

Answer 31

According to Michael Lynch, 36% of miners in a vulnerable coalfield in Lothian enlisted

Question 32

How did Pressure from employers result in voluntary recruitment?

Answer 32

Many were scared they would lose their job if they did not enlist

Question 33

Give an example of pressure from employers leading to voluntary recruitment.

Answer 33

The Earl of Wemyss threatened to dismiss any employee on his estates aged 18-30 who did not volunteer

Question 34

What was Stevenson’s quote about the innocence of volunteers?

Answer 34

“innocence of a generation”

Question 35

When was the last war between major powers before WW1?

Answer 35

The Franco-Russian War in 1871

Question 36

How did the fact that the last war between major powers was the Franco-Russian War of 1871 contribute to the innocence of volunteers?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

How did a previous lack of war technology contribute to innocence if volunteers?

Answer 37

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

Question 38

What sort of weapons were used before WW1?

Answer 38

Bayonets, Bows and Arrows, Cannons (less advanced)

Question 39

What were some weapons that were only just beginning to be used in WW1?

Answer 39

• Machine guns
• Tanks
• Grenades

Question 40

What is Scottish Martial Tradition?

Answer 40

This refers to the idea that Scots are experienced in war and have many symbols today that originated on the battlefield

Question 41

Give 2 example of previous conflicts that inspired Scottish Martial Tradition

Answer 41

• Wars of Independence
• Jacobite Rebellion

Question 42

What are some Scottish regiments that were military symbols?

Answer 42

• Kilts
• Bagpipes
• Tartan

Question 43

How did Scottish Martial Tradition result in voluntary recruitment?

Answer 43

Many Scots felt it was their duty to fight for Scotland, as they had done before. Quite patriotic

Question 44

What was a local recruiting regiment inspired by Scottish Martial Tradition?

Answer 44

The Gordon Highlanders who recruited from the North East

Question 45

How did innocence of volunteers affect Scottish Martial Tradition and so voluntary recruitment?

Answer 45

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

Question 46

How many Scots enlisted in WW1 altogether?

Answer 46

550,000