McCrae's Battalion


McCrae's Battalion was the affectionate name given by the people of Edinburgh to the 16th 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.

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.
16 players from Heart of Midlothian F.C. enlisted, along with 500 supporters and ticket-holders. Hearts were leading the Scottish League at the time the battalion was raised in November 1914. 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. Fans were encouraged to follow in their heroes' footsteps and fight alongside the men they cheered on every Saturday afternoon. Rugby players, athletes and a variety of other sportsmen also joined the battalion.
The contemporary Hearts manager John McCartney authored two booklets documenting Scottish footballers in the Great War and those from Hearts who perished.
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. 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.
In October 2014, the battalion was inducted to the Scottish Football Hall of Fame.

Gallery

Battalion members

Footballers

RankNameNationalityPositionClub prior to enlistmentBattalionWartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
CptCFRaith Rovers16th———
CSMLHHeart of Midlothian9th, 16th———
SSgtLBHeart of Midlothian16th———
SgtFBHeart of Midlothian16thSomme, France—
SgtRHRaith Rovers16thPasschendaele, BelgiumMM
CplWHHeart of Midlothian16th———
CplGKHeart of Midlothian16th———
CplCFHeart of Midlothian16thGlasgow, Scotland—
LCplLBFalkirk16th———
PteGKHeart of Midlothian16thSomme, France—
PteFBHeart of Midlothian16th———
PteRBHeart of Midlothian16thSomme, France—
PteIFFalkirk16th———
PteCHFalkirk16th———
PteHBHeart of Midlothian16th1 July 1916Somme, France—
PteOLHeart of Midlothian16th———
PteCHFalkirk16th———
PteHBDunfermline Athletic16thSomme, France—
PteRBRaith Rovers16th———
PteIRHeart of Midlothian16th———
PteFWFalkirk16th———
PteILKilmarnock16thSomme, France—
PteCHRaith Rovers16th———
PteHBHeart of Midlothian16th———
PteIFRaith Rovers16th———
PteCHFalkirk16th———
PteFWRaith Rovers16thSomme, France—
PteCHHeart of Midlothian16th———
PteCFGlossop3rd, 11th, 16thPas-de-Calais, France—
PteOFRaith Rovers16thNord, France—
PteFWHeart of Midlothian16thSomme, France—
PteOFHeart of Midlothian13th, 16th———
PteOFFalkirk16th———
n/aRHHibernian16th——MM
n/aOFHeart of Midlothian16th———

Other sportsmen

RankNameNationalitySportClub prior to enlistmentBattalionWartime death dateWartime death placeDecorationsNotesRef
LtRugby unionEdinburgh Wanderers16th9 April 1917Pas-de-Calais, France—
CptCricketGrange CC16th4 August 1916Somme, France—
SgtField hockeyn/a16th26 August 1917 Somme, FranceMM and Bar
PteGolfLe Touquet16th———
PteAthleticsEdinburgh Northern Harriers16th1 July 1916Somme, France—
n/aSwimming—16th——MM
n/aRugby unionRetired16th———
n/aRugby unionStewart's Melville16th——MC
n/aBodybuilding—16th1916Somme, France—