McCrae's Battalion: The Story of the 16th Royal Scots

by jack-alexander

McCrae's Own was the 'Heart of Midlothian Battalion' mentioned all too briefly in Martin Middlebrook's classic book The First Day on the Somme. Raised in Edinburgh shortly after the start of the Great War, it was perhaps the finest unit in Lord Kitchener's volunteer army - a brotherhood of sportsmen, bound together by their extraordinary colonel and their loyalty to a quaintly named Association Football club, the famous Gorgie 'Hearts'. McCrae's were blooded in the Battle of the Somme, losing three-quarters of their strength on the first day alone. The Colonel himself was invalided home. In time the battalion recovered. It came of age at Arras, endured the muddy horror of Passchendaele, and held the line unbroken in the face of furious German attacks on the Lys in 1918. For almost a century their story remained untold. It was all but lost forever. Now, after 12 years of exacting historical detective work, Jack Alexander has reclaimed the 16th Royal Scots for posterity. In this stirring book he draws upon interviews with veterans and a unique archive of letters, diaries and photographs, assembled from the families of more than 1,000 of Sir George McCrae's men.

Genres: History, Football, War, Scotland, Nonfiction

336 pages, Paperback

First published October 23, 2003

Reviews

[Derek Beaugarde · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of those epic books which covers the history of WW1, but it confines itself to one of the unique battalions raised in the Territorial Army - the 16th Royal Scots (2nd Edinburgh City) Battalion. It was raised on the back of political pressure on the Heart of Midlothian football club being berated for not sending their young professional players to fight. 16 Hearts players enlisted in the 'footballer's battalion' led by Hearts director Sir George McCrae. Author Jack Alexander tells the history of the battalion from its foundation in late 1914 to its disbandment in 1918, mainly through the eyes of the men who fought in Flanders Field.

[Gordon Watson · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book. Well written and researched. Gives insite into what the people of the period endured.

[Richard All · Rating 5 out of 5]

Made me sad but also not

[Godlarvae · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just this minute finished the book. I found it to be an exceptional read that was a distinct pleasure. The author embarked on a perilous journey to re-invent a history that had mostly slipped through the cracks and his success is surely just an iota less than a miracle.
I enjoyed the “social” aspects, both prior to and following the war. I found the idea that was so strikingly advanced, of the attacks from those who felt the footballers to be shirkers, to be amazing. So too was the general lack of knowledge on the home front of what these lads went through and the extent with which they suffered to be truly startling.
The names, of course, will not be remembered by me but the “idea” of how they joined, trained, fought, went home, lived, and died will be the fabric which I will remember. I enjoyed the author’s attention to detail as he reported what each of the members did prior to their enlistment, what they did during their effort, and how they lived out the rest of their lives. This made the record sympathetic to me by showing that they were not just names on a roll but well and truly real, normal, people, performing heroic acts when called upon.

[Michael Greig · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important episode in the history of Hearts. My family had some involvement with this. Having said that the book does just fall into a blow by blow account of the military campaign. This did not excite me as much. Glad I read it though

[Craig Herbertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply an amazing book. Meticulous research, the common touch, humorous at times in the face of a nightmarish horror. if you read one book on the first world war make it this one

[Derek · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars