scots on the western front

• Methods of Recruitment/Reasons why men joined up

  • Propaganda Posters
  • Peer Pressure
  • Pals Battalions
  • Tradition
  • Patriotism
  • Life Improvement
• Propaganda Posters


  A number of posters were produced using simple messaging that appealed to young men encouraging them to play their part in the war effort. Posters became more pointed, suggesting that to stay at home was cowardly. Slogans like "What did you do in the Great War, Daddy?" made men feel guilty.
• Peer Pressure


  Where friends and family made them feel guilty for not signing up. Peer pressure, enforced by newspapers also played a part.
• Pals Battalions

  Younger men would sign up with friends from their area, such as the Black Watch in Dundee, the Gordon Highlanders recruited largely from Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, and the Royal Scots tended to attract men from Edinburgh. After 13 Hearts players signed up, 600 Hearts supporters in six days also joined the 16th Royal Scots which became known as McCrae's Battalion.
• Tradition


  Scots had a reputation as strong fighters and wanted to maintain that. Many men's fathers and grandfathers had been soldiers and wanted to continue the family tradition. Scots had fought in wars such as The Wars of Independence and the Boer War, which meant they had a tradition of fighting.
• Patriotism


  Men truly believed they were fighting for their King and country to protect them from the evils of Germany. Scots affected by stories of spies and 'Belgian Atrocities' of German Army.
• Life Improvement

  Escape their boring and low paying jobs at home. Joining the army gave the opportunity to earn more money and travel to new countries. Recruitment in high unemployment areas more successful than in low. Opportunity to see new places and countries and perform heroic deeds- and quite possibly to leave behind a boring or difficult job.
• The war was not expected to last long/fear of missing out
• Experience of Life In the Trenches
• The war was seen as an opportunity to prove themselves, with many Scotsmen volunteering eagerly