Contributions of the Scots on the Western Front (SQA National 5 History): Revision Note

Summary

Several key battles fought on the Western Front involved Scottish soldiers. The Battle of Loos (1915) was the first large-scale battle in which poison gas was used. Scottish troops faced heavy casualties in this early battle in the French mining town of Loos. 

The Battle of the Somme was fought in the summer of 1916 to try to break the stalemate between the opposing sides. Heavy artillery was used and although a quick win was anticipated by General Haig, fighting dragged on throughout the autumn, resulting in huge losses of life. The Battle of Arras (1917) is another example of a costly struggle that included significant loss of life with little territorial gain.

The Battle of Loos

• The battle began on 25 September 1915 and was Britain’s first big offensive in France.

• The Battle of Loos saw Britain’s first use of poison gas aimed at breaking German lines around the mining town of Loos, France

The contribution of Scottish battalions during the Battle of Loos

• There was significant Scottish involvement in the Battle of Loos, especially the 9th and 15th Scottish Divisions

  • Units like the Black Watch and Cameron Highlanders suffered severe losses

  • Piper Daniel Laidlaw earned the Victoria Cross for rallying his battalion under fire

  • Laidlaw climbed onto the parapet and marched up and down playing “Blue Bonnets Over the Border,” encouraging the Scottish troops to go over the top and attack the German front line

  • He became known as 'The Piper of Loos'

The Battle of the Somme

• The battle fought in northern France began on 1 July 1916 with a huge artillery bombardment that could be heard as far away as London

  • The bombardment was designed to cut all the barbed wire and destroy German trenches

• This aimed to allow British troops to cross over 'No Man’s Land' at a walking pace and safely push back the German line

• Fighting during the battle lasted 140 days

• The creeping barrage and the first tanks were also used during the battle

• There were around 1 million casualties on both sides during July-November 1916

  • Roughly 300,000 people were killed in total

    • About 100,000 British, 50,000 French, and 150,000-170,000 German

    • On 1 July 1916 (the first day), about 19,240 British soldiers were killed

The contribution of Scottish battalions during the Battle of the Somme

• The 51st Highland Division helped capture Beaumont Hamel in November 1916

• Many battalions of the Royal Scots, Highland Light Infantry, Black Watch and Gordon Highlanders took heavy casualties 

• McCrae’s Battalion (16th Royal Scots), which included Hearts players and supporters, suffered severe losses near La Boisselle/Contalmaison on 1 July 1916

The Battle of Arras

• The Battle of Arras lasted from April to May 1917

  • The battle involved a series of short, intense bombardments, creeping barrages and surprise attacks from underground tunnels around Arras and Vimy

• Although the Allies made fast initial gains, the advance slowed and the number of casualties rose

  • There were approximately 158,000 British casualties and 120,000-130,000 German casualties in the Battle of Arras

  • One single day (3 May) saw over 7,000 British killed

The contribution of Scottish divisions at Arras

• The Royal Scots, Highland Light Infantry, fought in the opening attacks at Arras

• The 51st (Highland) Division fought brutal actions around Roeux and the Chemical Works on the River Scarpe in May 1917

  • This Scottish unit was successful in taking ground but suffered heavy casualties as a result