Scots on The Western Front

Scots on The Western Front

1. Recruitment

   • Scotland had a history of being natural warriors this increased Scottish recruitment
   • scotland formed 10% of the population but 13% of the casualties
   • more Scots joined the army than anywhere else in the UK.
   • in scotland as many as 688,000 imlisted!
   • PROPAGANDA
     • propaganda helped more than 200.000 scots join up
     • the government and promoted men to enlist through; patriotism, peer pressure, pals' battalions and promise of adventure
   • 12 million posters where printed promoting joining the army
   • 20,000 men join each day
   • people believed the war would be over by Christmas many men joining thinking they would never see battle

2. TECHNOLOGY OF WAR

   • artillery
     • responsible for 75% of deaths
     • Extremely hard to move due to their weight
   • Gas
     • silent killer
     • during the beginning the only the soldiers could do was pee on hankies
     • could blind and cause blisters as well as damage lungs
     • not as effective after gas masks
     • gas cylinders where hard to operate