BOOK REVIEWS

Manchester Scottish Roger J. Dowson

This book is the product of much research, beginning with the casual find of a family-member's Great War Memorial Plaque.  Although the soldier's family had no connection with Scotland - in fact the soldier was from Manchester - he had served in a Scottish Regiment - 15th Battalion, Royal Scots. Looking into this apparent family mystery a little more deeply, Roger Dowson discovered that Manchester's recruiting drives provided many thousands of men for Scottish regiments and, moreover, that about half of the 15th Battalion, Royal Scots were recruited in Manchester. This discovery led to the further research which made this book.

Early recruiting in Manchester followed the usual pattern, with local worthies being the prime movers in a desire to form a "Manchester Scottish" battalion. There was the usual confusion resulting from so much patriotic zeal, with accommodation, equipment and organisation being in rather short supply. Eventually, the "Manchester Scottish" contingent went to Edinburgh to become part of the 15th Royal Scots, then being recruited in the city.  There was some disappointment among the recruits. The 15th Royal Scots wasn't a kilted battalion. Moreover there were some complaints that the Manchester men were wasting time, being asked to parade around the streets of Edinburgh to persuade their  reluctant Scottish cousins to enlist! There were some doubts at home, too, where it was felt in some quarters that  the Scottish regiments were "clearing away the material out of which the Manchester Regiment should be built up." For the most part, though, the "Manchester Scottish" men themselves seemed quite happy with the situation they found themselves in.

Roger Dowson goes on to give an account of the battalion's complete service in the war, from their training right through to their virtual disbandment, when they were reduced to a training cadre in 1918, with most of the remaining men being sent to other battalions and the remainder helping to instruct newly arrived battalions, including some of the first American contingent.

For each period of action in which the battalion was involved, there are brief details of what happened, with maps to illustrate the general position, and there are details of casualties, with notes on former life, family and places of burial or commemoration for those who were killed or who died of their wounds. These details will be the most interesting part for researchers and family historians. There are photographs of a large proportion of the men, taken from local newspaper casualty reports of the time.

Finally there are similar details of Manchester and Salford men who lost their lives while serving with other battalions of the Royal Scots, and this information is cross-referenced to identify those who died while serving in the 15th Battalion, but who had also served in other battalions.

On an immediate personal level, this book may be of interest to local readers only but, looking to the future, it represents one more step along the road to total coverage of local involvement in the war.

Manchester Scottish

is published by:

Neil Richardson

and copies may be obtained from the author:

Roger J. Dowson
No. 1 "Pinfold Cottage"
High Street
Nawton
York
YO62 7TS

A3 folded to A4, stapled, Card Covers

91 pages, many black-and-white illustrations

ISBN: 1-85216-140-X

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