McCrae's Battalion

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McCrae's Battalion was the affectionate name given by the people of Edinburgh to the 16th (Service) Battalion of the Royal Scots in World War I, raised from volunteers in 1914 as part of the New Armies called to the Colours by Lord Kitchener. The unit was named after its charismatic colonel, former Liberal MP for Edinburgh East, Sir George McCrae.

Contents

Background

Largely composed of professional and amateur sportsmen, "McCrae's" was the first of the so-called 'footballers' Pals battalions to be raised during the war and was the main inspiration behind the creation of the 17th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in 1915. [1] [2]

16 players from Heart of Midlothian F.C. ("Hearts") enlisted, along with 500 supporters and ticket-holders. [1] Hearts were leading the Scottish League at the time the battalion was raised in November 1914. [3] In addition to the Hearts contingent, players and 150 followers of Hibernian, seven Raith Rovers players and a number of professional footballers from Falkirk, Dunfermline Athletic, East Fife and St Bernard's also enlisted. [1] [4] [5] Fans were encouraged to follow in their heroes' footsteps and fight alongside the men they cheered on every Saturday afternoon. [1] Rugby players, athletes and a variety of other sportsmen also joined the battalion. [1] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11]

The contemporary Hearts manager John McCartney authored two booklets documenting Scottish footballers in the Great War and those from Hearts who perished. [12] [13]

The unit was named after its charismatic colonel, Sir George McCrae, a former Liberal MP for Edinburgh East. It was the subject of a detailed historical account published in 2003 by Jack Alexander. [14] Shortly after the publication of this book, a memorial cairn was constructed in the village of Contalmaison on the Somme. Designed by Alexander, the McCrae's Battalion Great War Memorial cairn now attracts hundreds of visitors every year to the village. [15] [16]

In October 2014, the battalion was inducted to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame. [17]

Battalion members

Footballers

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
Cpt James Logan Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CF Raith Rovers 16th [18]
CSM Annan NessFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland LH Heart of Midlothian 9th, 16th [nb 1] [19]
SSgt Jimmy Frew Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland LB Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 2] [19]
Sgt Duncan Currie Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FB Heart of Midlothian 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 23) Somme, France [20]
Sgt George McLay Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland RH Raith Rovers 16th22 October 1917(1917-10-22) (aged 27–28) Passchendaele, Belgium MM [21]
Cpl Alfie Briggs Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland WH Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 3] [19]
Cpl Norman Findlay Flag of England.svg  England GK Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 4] [19]
Cpl Tom Gracie Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CF Heart of Midlothian 16th23 October 1915(1915-10-23) (aged 26) Glasgow, Scotland [22]
LCpl Alex Henderson Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland LB Falkirk 16th [11]
Pte Jimmy BoydFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland GK Heart of Midlothian 16th3 August 1916(1916-08-03) (aged 20–21) Somme, France [23]
Pte Paddy Crossan Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FB Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 3] [19]
Pte Ernest Ellis Flag of England.svg  England RB Heart of Midlothian 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 30) Somme, France [24]
Pte Mick Gibbons Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IF Falkirk 16th [11]
Pte Bob Godfrey Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Falkirk 16th [nb 3] [25]
Pte Jimmy HawthornFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland HB Heart of Midlothian 16th1 July 1916 Somme, France [26]
Pte Jimmy Hazeldean Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OL Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 3] [19]
Pte Andy Henderson Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Falkirk 16th [11]
Pte David Izatt Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland HB Dunfermline Athletic 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 23–24) Somme, France [27]
Pte William Lavery Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland RB Raith Rovers 16th [28]
Pte Teddy McGuire Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IR Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 3] [19]
Pte John Morrison Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW Falkirk 16th [11]
Pte Jimmy Morton Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IL Kilmarnock 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 22) Somme, France [29]
Pte Willie Porter Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Raith Rovers 16th [28]
Pte Bob Preston Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland HB Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 5] [19]
Pte Jock Rattray Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland IF Raith Rovers 16th [28]
Pte Frank Reilly Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Falkirk 16th [11]
Pte James Scott Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW Raith Rovers 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 20–21) Somme, France [30]
Pte Wattie Scott Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland CH Heart of Midlothian 16th [19]
Pte Harold Sparkes Flag of England.svg  England CF Glossop 3rd, 11th, 16th3 June 1917(1917-06-03) (aged 20–21) Pas-de-Calais, France [31]
Pte Jimmy Todd Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OF Raith Rovers 16th12 March 1916(1916-03-12) (aged 20–21) Nord, France [32]
Pte Harry Wattie Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland FW Heart of Midlothian 16th1 July 1916(1916-07-01) (aged 23) Somme, France [33]
Pte Willie Wilson Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OF Heart of Midlothian 13th, 16th [nb 6] [19]
Pte Bobby Wood Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OF Falkirk 16th [11]
n/a Sandy Grosert Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland RH Hibernian 16th MM [nb 7]
[nb 8]
[34]
n/a James Low Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland OF Heart of Midlothian 16th [nb 9] [19]

Other sportsmen

RankNameNationalitySportClub prior to enlistmentBattalion(s)Wartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
Lt Arthur FlettFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Rugby union Edinburgh Wanderers 16th9 April 1917 Pas-de-Calais, France [35]
Cpt Napier ArmitFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Cricket Grange CC16th4 August 1916 Somme, France [35]
Sgt Finlay MacRaeFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Field hockey n/a16th26 August 1917 (aged 30) Somme, France MM and Bar [35]
Pte Arthur GrantFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Golf Le Touquet16th [36]
Pte Harry HarleyFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Athletics Edinburgh Northern Harriers16th1 July 1916 Somme, France [35]
n/a Ned Barnie Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Swimming 16th MM [nb 10]
[nb 8]
[37]
n/a John Dallas Flag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Rugby union Retired16th [35]
n/aJim DavieFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Rugby union Stewart's Melville16th MC [35]
n/aMurdoch McLeodFlag of Scotland.svg  Scotland Bodybuilding 16th1916 Somme, France [35]

Notes

  1. Commissioned into the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots.
  2. Transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Medically discharged.
  4. Discharged to trade in September 1916.
  5. Transferred to the Highland Light Infantry.
  6. Transferred to the 13th Battalion, Royal Scots and later returned to the 16th Battalion.
  7. Transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in 1915 and was later commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders.
  8. 1 2 Decoration won while serving with another unit.
  9. Commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders.
  10. Transferred to the Royal Engineers.

See also

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