Scottish Footballers at the Somme - McCrae's Battalion (16th Royal Scots)
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- Join me as we visit the sites associated with McCrae's Battalion and their actions in the first days of the Somme offensive in July 1916.
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Hey, Chris, I have always thought your story telling was top notch, but this story really drew we in. Great job telling these young boys story. as you and I both have young boys around their age, it's impossible not to imagine our sons in their place and the mixed feelings of immense pride, but dread. God bless them all.
McCrae’s speech in his letter was so beautiful, wonderful work as always in your presentation!
Great production. Definitely some of the best Ww1 content. Side note with Blackadder being the best tv show regarding WW1, I'm reminded watching this ofa Doctor Who character in uniform remarking "What do you mean by the First World War. As Chris often reminds viewers, there is a lot more behind events than the eponymous 'trigger' events. If only these brave men knew what was ahead for them.
my favorite story from your other channel. glad to watch it here as well.
I've posted a similar comment to this on previous videos on VTH. My Great, Great Uncle Andrew Auld (from Stevenston, North Ayrshire, Scotland) fought at the Somme aged just 16. Luckily he survived and went on to become a professional footballer. He emigrated to the US in the early 20s. New York state I beleive. He became a sheet metal worker but eventually got picked up by a professional soccer club and was then selected for the US national team going on to represent them in the very first World Cup Finals in Uruguay 1930. They finished 3rd and Andy was presented with a bronze medal. He was posthumously inducted into the US Soccer Hall of Fame in the 1970s. He was known as Andy "Dasher" Auld as he was particularly quick.
My Great Grandfather fought at the Somme also aged just 16. He too survived and went on to join the Royal Merchant Navy during WW2 and ran the Artic Convoys on more than one occasion. I don't know what scares me more. The thought of battling through the hell scape that was WW1 or the constant threat of U-Boats and the Luftwaffe whilst running the convoys.
What a generation all of these brave brave men and women really were.
Chris, I posted this on your video of recommended WWI books but I was a number of days late so not sure if you saw that post. Anyway, was wondering if you are aware of this set of books on the Somme. Each book follows a British Corps on the first day and is extremely detailed and well worth it. So far two volumes have been published, XIII and XV Corps. I cannot put the link in here as it seems to not allow me to so search for Zero Hour ZDay. If you do not know about these books, I think you will find them fascinating.