1. Era of the Great War
Scots in the Great War

2. In today’s class I am learning to:
Scots in the Great War
In today’s class I am learning to:
Describe the role played by Scottish men and women during the Great War
Describe the actions during the war of specific Scots

3. Scots in the Great War
Scots played a prominent role in World War One, in fighting on the frontline, leading the military and providing other support too.

4. Scottish soldiers made up a large number of the British Army’s forces.
Scots in the Great War
Scottish soldiers made up a large number of the British Army’s forces.
It is estimated about one sixth of British soldiers that were first sent to the war were Scottish (Scots made up around one tenth of Britain’s total population).

5. Scots in the Great War
There is historical debate about the number of Scottish soldiers to die during the War.
Some people claim up to 200,000 Scots died (26% of all Scottish soldiers), but many historians believe the figure is closer to 100,000.

6. Scots in the Great War
In 2018 a Scottish Parliament project named all Scottish men and women killed during the conflict.
This included military deaths but also covered nurses and munitions workers. The number of names was 134, 712.

7. Scots in the Great War
There were many Scottish regiments which helped make up the British Army during the war.
These included the Black Watch, the Cameronians (rifle regiment), the Royal Scots Fusiliers and the Royal Scots.

8. The Scots stood out because they often wore kilts to fight.
Scots in the Great War
Scottish soldiers were present at many of the war’s most famous battles, including the Somme, Ypres, Loos, Amiens, Arras and Gallipoli.
The Scots stood out because they often wore kilts to fight.

9. The most famous Scot in the Great War was Douglas Haig.
Scots in the Great War
The most famous Scot in the Great War was Douglas Haig.
In 1915, Haig, from Edinburgh, was appointed Commander- in-chief of Britain’s armed forces, in charge of the country’s fighting strategy.

10. Haig has become a very controversial figure.
Scots in the Great War
Haig has become a very controversial figure.
Some people describe him as a ‘butcher’, believing that he sacrificed men without a clear plan for victory. Others believe that Haig’s tactics and plans were needed to win.

11. Scots also played other important war roles.
Scots in the Great War
Scots also played other important war roles.
Large numbers of Scottish men worked in reserved industries as miners or shipbuilders, producing the materials which were needed for the country to be able to fight the war.

12. Scottish women played a key role too.
Scots in the Great War
Scottish women played a key role too.
Some worked in industries at home, making munitions, for example. Others went to the frontline to work as nurses, or employed in other non-fighting roles including mechanics.

13. One of the most famous Scottish women during the war was Elsie Inglis.
Scots in the Great War
One of the most famous Scottish women during the war was Elsie Inglis.
Inglis offered to set up field hospitals in France and Belgium but the British Army rejected her help. However the French government accepted her offer.