Cpt_Blackadder Posted May 31, 2014 Share Posted May 31, 2014 There is something fitting about the fact that the teams that contributed players to McCrae's battalion (16th Royal Scots) in the Great War are in the same division; Hearts, Hibs, Raith Rovers, and Falkirk. I reckon only is Dunfermline is missing. I am working on an e-book of 80 strange but true stories from 1914 and want to include the tale of McCrae's force. I plan to include an image of the new Raith Rovers away strip and an image of a Hearts / McCrae's banner displayed at Easter Road. I recently visited the memorial at Contalmaison on the Somme and was impressed by the wreaths displayed there featuring Raith Rovers and Hibs club crests. Can any of you tell me who placed them there and why? Do any of the fans of the clubs associated with McCrae have a story to tell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Ayr United At War contains the following; Hearts won 2-0 at Ayr with the following team: Boyd, Crossan, Currie, Briggs, Scott, Mercer, Low, Wattie, Gracie, Graham and Wilson. James Boyd was fated to die at the Somme on 3rd August, 1916, at the age of twenty-one. Duncan Currie was killed on 1st July, 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme. Henry Wattie, aged twenty-three at the time, was also killed on that first day of battle. Another Hearts player to die in that battle on that day was Ernie Ellis, albeit that he was not in that team at Ayr. Thomas Gracie died from war wounds at the age of twenty-six on 23rd October, 1915. There was a mass enlistment of Hearts players on 25th November, 1914. Sir George McCrae and Sir James Leishman were forming a new battalion of the Royal Scots and they turned up at Tynecastle Park on that day by arrangement to talk to the Hearts players and staff. Currie, Briggs, Low, Wattie, Gracie and Wilson of the first team volunteered as did Findlay, Frew, Ness, Ellis and Preston of the reserves. Eleven in total; it was a splendid example. Three days later Ayr United drew 1-1 at Hampden Park in a league fixture, one report eliciting this comment: “There is no football club in Scotland which has been so heavily handicapped as Queen’s Park in the matter of the loss of the services of players through the war claims.” Six Falkirk players emulated their Hearts counterparts by joining McCrae’s Battalion. One of them was Robert Godfrey whom Ayr United were to purchase from Bathgate for £55 in August 1920. He was the grandfather of Peter Godfrey who was a prominent player with St.Mirren in the 1980s. McCrae’s Battalion also attracted six players from Raith Rovers. One week after the Queen’s Park match report had touched on the enlistment activity of Ayr United’s opponents the theme was revisited when Raith Rovers played at Ayr. “The appearance in the arena of the Raith Rovers players excited more than the usual interest, the news being fresh of the volunteering of some half-a-dozen recruits for Sir George McCrae’s Edinburgh Battalion. The arrangement whereby these football volunteers are allowed to play in matches for their clubs where at all possible, pleases the public very much.” Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zen Archer (Raconteur) Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 http://www.raithrovers.net/raithtv?vid=230 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ebanda's Handyman Services Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Can any of you tell me who placed them there and why? Do any of the fans of the clubs associated with McCrae have a story to tell? Hi. I'm fairly certain that the Raith supporter who visited Contalmaison posts on Raith Fantalk. Might be worth posting up a wee topic there. All the best with your e-book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chateau Lafite Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Fascinating thread. Good luck with the book. I'll certainly download when it's finished. It would be interesting to know what happened in other clubs during WW1. I don't know what occured at Dens, so I'll have to go and find out now.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skyline Drifter Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Fascinating thread. Good luck with the book. I'll certainly download when it's finished. It would be interesting to know what happened in other clubs during WW1. I don't know what occured at Dens, so I'll have to go and find out now.. We didn't exist during WW1. Queen of the South was formed in 1919 in the immediate post war period from the remnants of three existing clubs (Arrol Johnston, KOSB and Dumfries). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
embow Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Hi Capt Blackadder. A pilgrimage is made every year to Contalmaison by McCraes Battalion Trust, (formerly the Hearst Great War Memorial Fund ). Wreaths are laid by a variety of representatives of various clubs organisations and political institutions, including the local French Departement. Last year Keith Brown the Minister for Transport and War Veterans attended to represent the Scottish Parliament. There is always a Scottish Govt minister in attendance each year. Hearts, Raith, Hibs and Falkirk Council are also officially represented. A variety of Hearts organisations such as the club, the shareholders, various supporters clubs all lay wreaths. Hibs likewise but to a lesser extent. I'm the Raith representative and lay a I wreath on behalf of the club, directors and all the fans and the Provost of Falkirk Council acts on behalf of his Council. Wreaths are also laid on behalf of the SFA and the SRU. It's going to take too long to go into detail about the annual pilgrimage but for information on McCraes you must read 'the book' McCraes Battalion The history of the 16th Royal Scots by Jack Alexander who is the leading authority on all of this. This year is the 10th anniversary of the unveiling of the memorial cairn. Two years ago another memorial further back towards the end of the church was unveiled to show the battle lines that morning 1st July 1916. As you may be aware Raith have issued a commemorative away top for the next two seasons as it's lasting memorial of the seven volunteers who joined two days after the Hearts lads. The others followed soon after. It was known as the Sporting Battalion not only because of the professional football players but many others from a variety of sports clubs chose to also join this battalion. Go onto Raithfantalk and find a post by me and send me a pm with your e mail address. I'll forward this years itinerary to you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hearts Daft Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 There is something fitting about the fact that the teams that contributed players to McCrae's battalion (16th Royal Scots) in the Great War are in the same division; Hearts, Hibs, Raith Rovers, and Falkirk. I reckon only is Dunfermline is missing. I am working on an e-book of 80 strange but true stories from 1914 and want to include the tale of McCrae's force. I plan to include an image of the new Raith Rovers away strip and an image of a Hearts / McCrae's banner displayed at Easter Road. I recently visited the memorial at Contalmaison on the Somme and was impressed by the wreaths displayed there featuring Raith Rovers and Hibs club crests. Can any of you tell me who placed them there and why? Do any of the fans of the clubs associated with McCrae have a story to tell? Watch "The Supreme Sacrifice" on youtube if you haven't already. Good luck with the book! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hearts Daft Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Ayr United At War contains the following; Hearts won 2-0 at Ayr with the following team: Boyd, Crossan, Currie, Briggs, Scott, Mercer, Low, Wattie, Gracie, Graham and Wilson. James Boyd was fated to die at the Somme on 3rd August, 1916, at the age of twenty-one. Duncan Currie was killed on 1st July, 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme. Henry Wattie, aged twenty-three at the time, was also killed on that first day of battle. Another Hearts player to die in that battle on that day was Ernie Ellis, albeit that he was not in that team at Ayr. Thomas Gracie died from war wounds at the age of twenty-six on 23rd October, 1915. There was a mass enlistment of Hearts players on 25th November, 1914. Sir George McCrae and Sir James Leishman were forming a new battalion of the Royal Scots and they turned up at Tynecastle Park on that day by arrangement to talk to the Hearts players and staff. Currie, Briggs, Low, Wattie, Gracie and Wilson of the first team volunteered as did Findlay, Frew, Ness, Ellis and Preston of the reserves. Eleven in total; it was a splendid example. Three days later Ayr United drew 1-1 at Hampden Park in a league fixture, one report eliciting this comment: There is no football club in Scotland which has been so heavily handicapped as Queens Park in the matter of the loss of the services of players through the war claims. Six Falkirk players emulated their Hearts counterparts by joining McCraes Battalion. One of them was Robert Godfrey whom Ayr United were to purchase from Bathgate for £55 in August 1920. He was the grandfather of Peter Godfrey who was a prominent player with St.Mirren in the 1980s. McCraes Battalion also attracted six players from Raith Rovers. One week after the Queens Park match report had touched on the enlistment activity of Ayr Uniteds opponents the theme was revisited when Raith Rovers played at Ayr. The appearance in the arena of the Raith Rovers players excited more than the usual interest, the news being fresh of the volunteering of some half-a-dozen recruits for Sir George McCraes Edinburgh Battalion. The arrangement whereby these football volunteers are allowed to play in matches for their clubs where at all possible, pleases the public very much. Small inaccuracy in there. Tom Gracie never made it into conflict. He died through exhaustion and Leukemia. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 Small inaccuracy in there. Tom Gracie never made it into conflict. He died through exhaustion and Leukemia. Poor guy. What a way to end his life. We should be grateful that we live when we do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt_Blackadder Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 Interesting responses. I have read Jack Alexander's brilliant book as well as other bits of pieces including news cuttings. I know the fate of the Hearts players and visited related places of commemoration. I know that the Falkirk players all survived but I don't know what happened to the others. This is personal interest rather for inclusion in my story as I think this would be too much detail for potential readers. I plan to include the story of Clapton (now Leyton) Orient who enlisted en bloc and I have a really touching story about the death of one of their players. I am also using the story of Frederick Charrington (of the brewing family) who was thrown out of Craven Cottage when he tried to deliver a pre-arranged recruitment address. Ironically the team Fulham was about to play was Clapton Orient! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cpt_Blackadder Posted June 1, 2014 Author Share Posted June 1, 2014 I meant to also say that I keep seeing the 17th Middlesex Regiment identified as the first British footballers battalion. This is the unit that players from Clapton Orient, Chelsea, West Ham and Q.P.R. joined. They were nicknamed the 'first footballers battalion' because a second footballers battalion as also formed in the Middlesex Regiment. McCrae's was formed a month earlier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caledonian Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 This might be of interest http://www.waterstones.com/waterstonesweb/products/duncan+carmichael/ayr+united+at+war/10432648/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morph2 Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 What are the other stories your book will include OP? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hearts Daft Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 "The Hearts and The Great War" is also something to read. Written by our manager at the time and the man who built the team - John McCartney. It has some inaccuracies in it but it's a good read. Alexander does the foreword in the 2004 edition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HibeeJibee Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 On this theme - an excellent book has been written by Alan Brown called "World War One and Scottish Football". In the main it's a statistical history of the Scottish game during from 1914-15 - 1918-19 with dates, results, lineups, goalscorers, attendances and referees for Scottish League clubs, in the SFL and the various local cups which kept running. However small biographies... often with photos... are given for players who lost their lives. He's identified 123 Scots who'd played SFL or Football League who died. I highly recommend it. Copies are available here for £10 plus £2 p+p: http://scottishfootballhistory.wordpress.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thistle_do_nicely Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 I'm related to Alfie Briggs from the battalion, albeit a bit distantly. I think his nearer relations are in Canada now. Good luck with the e-book. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bloomogganners Posted June 1, 2014 Share Posted June 1, 2014 http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20131114/john-appointed-mccraes-battalion-trust-ambassador_2241384_3534447 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morph2 Posted June 2, 2014 Share Posted June 2, 2014 Will there be any chance of bringing a hard copy out if it's successful? My grandad would love to read stuff like this, but he's a bit technologically behind. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chateau Lafite Posted June 4, 2014 Share Posted June 4, 2014 On this theme - an excellent book has been written by Alan Brown called "World War One and Scottish Football". Many thanks HibeeJibee. Great information. Good luck to your team in getting out of the Championship. It's not easy. In the main it's a statistical history of the Scottish game during from 1914-15 - 1918-19 with dates, results, lineups, goalscorers, attendances and referees for Scottish League clubs, in the SFL and the various local cups which kept running. However small biographies... often with photos... are given for players who lost their lives. He's identified 123 Scots who'd played SFL or Football League who died. I highly recommend it. Copies are available here for £10 plus £2 p+p: http://scottishfootballhistory.wordpress.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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