Queen s Park Football Club and the Great War

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1 Queen s Park Football Club and the Great War This account aims to raise awareness and understanding in both the club and wider community of the impact of the war on the club and the members and players who enlisted for military service, at least 32 of whom died. Their story has remained virtually unknown until now. Part One Queen s Park Responds to War Queen s Park On Tour in the Last Summer of Peace The Call to Arms Queen s Park Answers the Call Queen s Park and the Scots Battalions The Home Front The Debate on Scottish Football Charitable Work Queen s Park Teams and Performance Written by Fred Ellsworth March 1 st

2 Queen s Park Responds to War QPFC Founded on July 9 th 1867, Queen's Park Football Club is Scotland's oldest senior club. In the Amateur era from 1873 to 1890, they enjoyed much success on the field. Queen s Park had reached the FA Cup Final twice and won the Scottish Cup for the ninth time in Queen s Park Season Winners of Scottish Cup and Glasgow Cup Back Row (Left to Right) : J McTavish, J McAra Middle Row (Left to Right) : W Arnott, R Smellie, G Gillespie, A Stewart, W Gulliland, D.S. Allan Front Row (Left to Right) : W Berry, W Sellar, D.C. Brown (President), T Robertson, J Hamilton Queen's Park opposed the creation of a Scottish Football League in 1890, anticipating that a formal league would make professionalism inevitable. Despite their absence from the new league Queen s Park won the Scottish cup for a tenth time in 1893, beating Celtic 2-1 in a final replay at Ibrox Park. However, finding it increasingly difficult to compile a meaningful fixture list, Queen s Park finally joined the League in May During the period from 1896 to 1903, Queen's Park purchased the 12 acres of land in Mount Florida, Glasgow, on which the club erected the third and greatest Hampden Park. The facilities were opened on October 31 st 1903 in a home league fixture against Celtic. 2

3 Hampden Park soon grew in popularity as a neutral venue for cup finals and international matches, and prior to 1914 held its first crowd of over 100,000. A new pavilion was built in 1914 in an innovative design that incorporated a Pavilion within a Stand. When completed in December 1914 the Southern Press described it as possibly the most palatial club house in world football. Hampden Park in the 1920s Queen s Park s first eleven struggled to compete in the First Division of the Scottish League between 1900 and 1914, with the club losing some of its best players to professional clubs at the end of each season. Despite such difficulties, Queen's Park did not stand still. The years between 1909 and 1913 saw a significant development of the club's three junior elevens. The Strollers (2nd) X1 were to compete in the Glasgow Reserve XI FA, Scottish 2nd XI FA and the Scottish Reserve League. The Hampden XI (3rd team) were entered in the Scottish Amateur League, formed in 1909, and the Victoria XI (4th team) joined the Scottish Football Union. Queen's Park s constitution and structure in 1914 was unique. The Club had set a 350 limit to its membership of current and former amateur players, as well as non-playing members, with committees having discretion to admit any additional applicants who are considered likely to strengthen the playing element of the club. The amateur status of the club was re-affirmed by the stipulation that no person who had been at any time a professional player, coach or manager in any form of sport could either be admitted as a member, or indeed retain membership. In 1914, as today, Queen s Park was the only fully amateur club in the Scottish Football League, its amateur status reflected in its Latin motto, "Ludere Causa Ludendi" to play for the sake of playing. 3

4 On Tour in the Last Summer of Peace Following the end of season Queen s Park embarked on the club s 5 th continental tour, on this occasion to Denmark and Sweden. The tour party consisted of 14 players, together with the team trainer, and 6 club officials. On Thursday May 28 th they were seen off from Queen Street by a large crowd of fellow members and friends before setting sail from Leith. Deck billiards, deck quoits and a shovelboard tournament were played on board. After an impromptu concert early to bed was the order of the night and early to rise and a cold sea water bath the order of Friday morning. According to the Evening Times the voyage was enjoyed most thoroughly by as happy and brotherly a crowd of boys as ever wore the world-famous colours of the old club. The same correspondent reported that Eddie Garvie, seen here sitting on deck with the lifebelt round his neck, was at the centre of most activities and proved himself a master of a number of wind instruments, ranging from the bassoon to the flute, and from the bagpipes to the trombone. 4

5 The first game, on Monday June 1 st, was played in front of a crowd of 10,000 against a team selected from the best 4 clubs in Copenhagen. According to some observers the select was comparable in strength to the Danish national team. The Queen s team that day, in traditional formation, was Gordon Kerr ; James West and Robert Young ; Eddie Garvie, Tom Haydock, and John Roberts; Elijah Cresswell, James Walker, George. Cunningham, A. D. McLaren, and Ralph Risk. The 3 other players on the tour were Andrew McCrae, Maurice Wilson and W Kerr. Queen s Park were defeated 5-1 as a result of what the Evening Times described as wretched shooting by their forwards. On Tuesday June 2 nd the team sailed on to Gothenburg and the following day, in front of a crowd of 4,000, defeated Orgryte 2-0, with goals from Andrew McCrae and Elijah Cresswell. Back Row from the left : Councillor George Samson, Ralph Risk *, Hugh Logan (Joint Treasurer), Thomas Robertson (President) Middle Row from the left : J Nutt (Trainer), A MacLean (Joint Treasurer), George Bruce Cunningham *, Maurice Wilson *, James Walker *, J S Strang (Secretary) Front Row from the left : Gordon Kerr, Eddie Garvie *, Elijah Cresswell *, John Roberts *, James West *, Andrew McCrae *, J Fullarton (Club Official), A D McLaren, Robert M Young * The tour party arrived back in Leith on Sunday June 7 th. Within two months Britain was at war with Germany. 11 of the 14 players on tour that Summer enlisted for service during the First World War and are indicated with an * in the group photograph above. Absent from the photograph was Tom Haydock. Of the 11, Eddie Garvie, Andrew McCrae and Tom Haydock were to lose their lives. 5

6 The Call to Arms At the start of the war there were around 700,000 soldiers fit for service in the British army a number which included many territorials and reservists. By modern day standards this is a staggering figure. However, by comparison with other major powers in 1914, Britain s army was small. Lord Kitchener, Secretary for War, was entrusted with the task of rapidly expanding the size of the British army. By the end of December 1914 well over a million men had joined up. So successful was his campaign that it remained unnecessary to introduce compulsory conscription before January Many men saw it as their patriotic duty to fight for their country even some of those who came to believe that the war should be brought to an end. Others joined for more mundane reasons, whether to escape unemployment and low wages or to fulfil a sense of adventure and excitement in participating in a war that would be over by Christmas. Enlistment was encouraged by a relentless propaganda campaign targeted at the conscience of potential recruits, their families and their employers 6

7 Queen s Park Answers the Call Queen s Park members and players were among the first to volunteer for service. By the time Queen s Park met Third Lanark on Saturday September 5 th at Cathkin Park a dozen members and players had already enlisted. In this Evening Times cartoon the Queen s Park player in the foreground is Eddie Garvie, one of the club s most prominent players who enlisted in the 5 th Battalion Cameron Highlanders. A report on the match against Third Lanark stated It was pleasing to observe that the excellent response by the Queen s Park boys to Lord Kitchener s call was not forgotten by the crowd. When Captain Garvie led his men afield the enthusiasm of the spectators was most pronounced, and right throughout the game there were outbursts which betokened appreciation better than words. 7

8 On December 21 st 1914, the Evening Times reported that 71 Queen s Park members and players were now serving with His Majesty s Forces, and in doing so stated that it is singularly appropriate that the oldest amateur club now playing what is termed first class football, and the premier club of Scotland, should show a record unequalled by any other club. Queen s Park Season Back Row from the left : Arthur F Murray *, Clyde Skene, James Strang (Secretary), Robert S McColl *, James Thomson, Harold McDonald Paul *, James Bryce * Middle Row from the left : Harry Fletcher *, James Hamilton, R G Burnett, R Purcell, James Bennett * Front Row from the left : A Richmond, A D Armour, James Allison (President), W McAndrew, James Bowie * Enlisted during the war with names in bold those who subsequently died Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war : William P Brown, R J Cameron, Claude Craigie, James Leckie, James McBean, Robert M Young, 8

9 Queen s Park Season Back Row from the left : Maurice Wilson *, D G Drummond, James McBean *, F J Porter, T E Forsyth *, James Anderson *, C B Miller (Secretary) Front Row from the left : A Couper, William Walker *, J Clark, J Liddell (President), Hector McKenzie (Captain) *, Alex Todd, Eddie Garvie * * Enlisted during the war with names in bold those who subsequently died Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war : John Barbour, Claude Craigie, James Laughland, William McKenna, Robert C McKenzie, John Monteith, Arthur F Murray, Harold McDonald Paul, George Ramsay, J Robertson, Robert M Young 9

10 Queen s Park Season Back Row from the left : J Hudson, Peter Purcell, Maurice Wilson *, William Walker *, J S Strang (Secretary) Middle Row from the left : Andrew McCrae *, Colin Buchan *, Thomas Miller *, Gordon Kerr, Robert Rhind *, Robert M Young *, Thomas Robertson (President) Front Row from the left : Elijah Cresswell *, John Roberts *, Eddie Garvie *, Alex Todd, Robert M Morton, Gordon Hoare *, Alan L Morton * Enlisted during the war with names in bold those who subsequently died Other First XI Players who enlisted during the war : James B Bennett, Walter Coulter, George Bruce Cunningham, Alex Douglas, T E Forsyth, Hector McKenzie, T Miller, Ralph Risk, James Walker, James West 10

11 On December 21 st the Evening Times, in noting the number of Queen s Park players who had enlisted, suggested that an eleven could be chosen from the members now enlisted which would have little difficulty in beating the eleven that played Heart of Midlothian last Saturday, viz. : M Cameron; J L West and R M Young; E S Garvie, H McKenzie and J McKechnie; A B McCrae and J Walker; C L Buchan; R Rhind and H M Paul., while another eleven could be selected very little under the above in playing strength. The official opening of Queen s Park s new centre stand and pavilion coincided with what was described as a grand recruiting football match, played on the afternoon of Wednesday December 23 rd 1914, between Queen s Park and a team representing the 17 th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry. The Queen s Park team included a number of players from Junior clubs and the 17 th Battalion team included 3 Queen s Park players. The game was played in front of 2,000 spectators, with proceeds from the match being donated to the 17 th Battalion. The game was played in difficult conditions as a result of a recent snowfall. According to the Glasgow Herald, the first half was evenly contested but after crossing over the Queen s were the more aggressive side. Eddie Garvie scored twice in Queen s eventual 3 2 victory. The Evening Times correspondent reported that Garvie was as irrepressible as of yore, and it was quite apparent that he has not lost touch of the game during his training at Aldershot. In the four years of the Great War, at least 216 Queen s Park members and players were on service at some time or another. Of that number, at least 31 were either killed or died from wounds sustained in action. Most were players or former players but some were non-playing members. In his book Football's White Feathers, John Litster concluded that The Scottish club most affected by the war was Queen s Park - whose amateur players volunteered for service in numbers unmatched by other clubs. The club includes former players and non-playing members in their roll of honour naming 216 individuals who enlisted in the services - but, even when they are excluded, the number of contemporary QP footballers who joined the forces is formidable. 11

12 Queen s Park and the Scots Battalions In the course of the war more than 550,000 Scotsmen enlisted in the British army. Whilst some enlisted in the Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery, they mainly enlisted into a battalion of one of the 10 Scottish infantry regiments. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Gordon Highlanders Highland Light Infantry King s Own Scottish Borderers Queen s Own Cameron Highlanders Royal Highlanders (Black Watch) Royal Scots Royal Scots Fusiliers Scottish Rifles (Cameronians) Seaforth Highlanders Regimental battalions were composed of 1,000 men, although actual fighting strength in time of war was often somewhere between 500 and Battalions, generally from different regiments, were then grouped together in Brigades and 3 Brigades were then grouped into Divisions of nominally 12,000 men. Thus, in most Divisions the 12 Battalions were drawn from different regiments and different parts of the UK. However, there were some Divisions where the Battalions were drawn from one broad geographical area. e.g. 51st (Highland) Division 52nd (Lowland Division) 9th (Scottish) Division 15th (Scottish) Division A battalion commander usually carried the rank of Major or the more senior Lieutenant Colonel. Below them in rank were Lieutenants or the more senior Captains, each commanding battalion companies of up to 250 men. Almost 40 Queen s Park members and players enlisted into battalions of 3 of the 4 infantry regiments which recruited extensively in West Central Scotland the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, the Scottish Rifles and the Royal Scots Fusiliers. However, 50 Queen s Park men enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry alone. This regiment drew its recruits mainly from the Greater Glasgow area. The 5 th, 6 th, 7 th and 9 th Territorial Battalions were all recruited in Glasgow itself, as were the 15 th, 16 th, 17 th and 18 th New Army Battalions. 12

13 The 9th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry were commonly known as the Glasgow Highlanders. At least 29 Queen s Park members and players initially enlisted in this battalion at Greendyke Street, Glasgow Green. The battalion motto was Motto Nemo Me Impune Lacessit (No One Assails Me With Impunity). As part of the 2 nd Division the battalion fought at the Battle of Loos in Transferred to the 33rd Division, the battalion was engaged in most of the major battles fought on the Western Front between 1916 and Queen s Park Members and Players * who originally enlisted in the 9 th Battalion Highland Light Infantry Sergeant Arthur C Baillie Lieutenant James Baillie * Lance Corporal John Barbour * Major Frank Beattie Sergeant James Bennett * Private John Brady Private David F Cameron * Private MacDonald Cameron * L/Corporal Donald Campbell Captain Walter Coulter MC * Private Alex Douglas * Private Walter Frier Captain Alex Gordon * Private George Lean Lieutenant Andrew Leslie * Corporal Robert McBean * Private James McBeath Private John McKechnie * Captain Peter Moodie DSO * Sergeant Robert Rhind * Private John Robertson Jnr * Captain Walter P Scott * Private David Sorley Lieutenant William Steele Private John Stevenson * Private James Walker * Sergeant Thomas Walker 2nd Lieutenant James West * Private Robert Young * Killed or Died of Wounds Robert Rhind 17 First XI appearances at inside forward David Cameron 39 First XI appearances at half back Robert Young 157 First XI appearances at full back Enlisting in the Highland Light Infantry he was later commissioned as an officer in the Scottish Rifles. 13

14 Inter battalion sporting competition does not seem to have become a common feature of military life until late Thereafter, during periods when withdrawn from the front lines in Belgium and France, the Glasgow Highlanders engaged in sporting competition against other battalions. The battalion established an enviable reputation, with no defeats recorded in either cricket, rugby or football. Although no team lists have survived, it is inconceivable that Queen s Park players were not involved. Football Record of 9 th Battalion Highland Light Infantry November 22 nd 1916 Defeated 1 st Battalion Queen s 5 0 in Brigade Semi Final November 26 th 1916 November 29 th 1916 December 2 nd 1916 August 11 th 1917 January 1 st 1918 January 2 nd 1918 February 4 th 1918 February 11 th 1918 September 7 th 1918 December 17 th 1918 Defeated 16 th Battalion King s Royal Rifles 2 0 in Brigade Final Defeated 20 th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 3 0 in 33 rd Division Semi - Final Defeated 2 nd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders 3 1 in 33 rd Division Final Defeated 17 th Battalion Highland Light Infantry 4 0 Defeated 18 th Battalion HLI, 35 th Division Champions, 2 0 Defeated 2 nd Battalion Worcester Regiment 10-1 Defeated 20 th Battalion Royal Fusiliers 5 0 in 33 rd Division Semi - Final Retained the 33 rd Division Championship by defeating the 4th Battalion King s Liverpool Regiment 7 0 Defeated 5 th Battalion Scottish Rifles 6 0 Defeated 16 th Battalion King s Royal Rifles Regiment 8-0 Glasgow Highlanders at rugby practice in August 1917 at Ghyvelde in France. On August 14 th they defeated the 16 th Battalion King s Royal Rifles 16 5 and on September 5 th the 2 nd Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers Glasgow Highlander of the 9th Battalion Highland Light Infantry 14

15 The 15 th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry, known as The Boozy First Glasgow, was composed of men from the Glasgow Corporation Tramways Department. The 16 th Battalion was composed of men from the Boys Brigade. Known as the Holy Second Glasgow, they are seen here parading in George Square in September Amongst those who served were James Alexander, a committee member and former Treasurer, and MacDonald Cameron, goalkeeper with the Strollers X1 who represented Scotland in army internationals. The 17 th Battalion, Highland Light Infantry was raised by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce. They were known as the Saintly Third Glasgow or Featherbeds due to their alleged superior living quarters whilst in training. As well as from the city s coercial sector many of the recruits were students at Glasgow Royal Technical College, now part of Strathclyde University, seen here holding a final meeting before leaving for military training. Amongst those who served in the 17 th Battalion were James Anderson, William Brown, Harry Nairn Robertson and John Roberts who made 79 First XI appearances at half back for Queen s Park between 1913 and Enlisting in the Highland Light Infantry he was awarded a Military Medal for gallantry before being commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. 15

16 The Debate on Scottish Football The Home Front When war broke out there were some who questioned whether it was appropriate that competitive sport should continue. At a meeting on August 11 th 1, the SFA discussed the matter and three days later, the Glasgow Herald reported that like the Rugby authorities, the Scottish Football Association were of the opinion that there was nothing to be gained by vetoing football, just now at any rate, it being felt that an excitable public would find an outlet for its feelings by participating in the mimic warfare of the football field. By the end of August there appeared to be growing support for a complete stoppage to football competition. St Johnstone wrote to the SFA proposing that the game should now meantime be discontinued. By contrast, a prominent MP declared that for Heaven s sake, keep your sport going. We want something to distract the attention of people from the war. The War Office recognised the damage that a complete shutdown of football would cause to clubs and saw the potential of football as a means of raising money from both clubs and supporters for war charities. At the same time it realized that professional footballers exempting themselves from enlistment might well lead to public resentment. Indeed, in some newspapers accusations of cowardice were already being made against footballers perceived to be reluctant to sign up. It was in this atmosphere that some football clubs took the initiative in supporting the enlistment of players into the armed forces. In Glasgow, as we have seen, Queen s Park were at the forefront of this development, with 71 members and players having enlisted by the middle of December In Edinburgh the 15 th Battalion (1 st Edinburgh), Royal Scots was formed by Robert Cranston, a prominent city businessman and former Lord Provost. The 16 th Battalion (2 nd Edinburgh), Royal Scots was formed by Sir George McCrae, also a prominent businessman and former Member of Parliament. The Heart of Midlothian team of 1914 won their first 8 games of the season. In November 13 players enlisted in McCrae s Battalion. After signing their papers in the Tynecastle boardroom, 10 of the players donned their strips and posed outside the main stand. As the cameraman prepared to take this photograph, the club cat crossed in front of the players and was grabbed by Annan Ness. 16

17 Whilst the players were still in army training Hearts continued to dominate Scottish football. On October 24 th Queen s Park had earned a draw at Tynecastle, the only team to have done so. On December 21 st the Scotsman reported on the return fixture : Hearts did not take kindly to the draw at Tynecastle on 24 th October, and in the second meeting took full revenge.it was a well-merited lead of two goals with which the Hearts opened the second half, and it looked like being increased when Gracie immediately made for Kerr on resuming. It was Graham, however, who had the credit of further increasing his side s total, and then Wilson added a fourth. Kerr, who had done well for the Queen s in goal, overreached himself in a great attempt to save Wilson s curling shot and, after he had been carried off, one of the Hampden backs J.G. Wilson was ordered to the pavilion. Well beaten as the Queen s were, they had shown good form at times, and in the first half especially stood up pluckily to the League leaders. Inspired by the lead taken by players from Queen s Park and Hearts, others followed, including players from Raith Rovers and Falkirk - and in doing so forestalled a movement in Parliament aimed at formally suspending professional football in Britain. McCrae s Battalion in turn encouraged the formation of similar battalions composed of professional footballers and sportsmen in England. By the end of 1914 it was formally agreed that league football could continue, with the SFA being required to send letters to all clubs urging them to take every step in their power to encourage recruitment. League football in Scotland carried on as before throughout season although the Second Division programme was suspended at the end of the season. The Scottish League laid down stringent conditions for professional footballers. The maximum wage was 1 per week for the playing season only, with a deferred payment of a further 1 a week payable at the end of the season if the club s profit was sufficient to finance it. Players had to be in other employment and clubs were forbidden to pay compensation to a player for time lost at work through injury sustained while playing football. At a meeting of the four home football associations in December 1914, it was decided, in deference to public opinion, that no internationals or national cup competitions should be held. The Scottish Qualifying Cup competition had already taken place but the Scottish Cup was abandoned. 17

18 Pin it Lik Charitable Work Immediately after war was declared, there were appeals for donations to various war charities. The most prominent of these was the Prince of Wales National Relief Fund, inaugurated on August 8 th On Tuesday August 11 th 2014 the Scottish Football Association agreed to donate 1,000 to the National Relief Fund. Two days later, the Evening Times reported, One of the most noteworthy subscriptions to the War Relief Fund is that of the Queen s Park Football Club. Scotland s premier club has always been noted for its extreme patriotism, and now, after giving men to the forces, they have sent the handsome donation of 250 to the fund. The club also made a substantial donation of 150 to the Belgian Relief Fund and continued to raise funds for a range of charities throughout the war. On May 19 th 1917, there was a 40,000 crowd at Hampden Park for the Glasgow Merchants Charity Cup Final between Queen s Park and Celtic and the sum of 1,000 was raised for Glasgow charities. In April 1918, Queen s Park and Ayr United played a benefit match at Hampden Park in aid of Ayr County Hospital. Queen s Park continued to support charitable causes after the war ended. On January 31 st 1919, a preview of the following day s match against St Mirren stated, that a collection is to be taken during the interval for the upkeep of the Queen s Park St Mirren bed in the Paisley Barshaw House War Hospital. It will be recalled that the Hampden and Paisley teams played a benefit match to form the nucleus of a fund for the purpose. Queen s Park s benevolence was also seen closer to home. The club made every effort to keep in touch with members who had volunteered and arrangements were made to send newspapers, magazines and cigarettes to the front. On January 25 th 1918, the Southern Press reported that The amateurs annual smoker in the Grand Hotel on Saturday was a brilliant success, and their boys on active service will each receive a little reminder that the grand old club is still carrying on and going strong. 18

19 Queen s Park Teams and Performance Queen s Park players began to enlist within days of the outbreak of war. On Saturday September 19 th 1914, the Evening Times reported that if Queen s Park are depleted much further, they will have some difficulty in putting one team on the field, much less four. Early in season the decision was taken to suspend the fixture list of the club s two junior sides, the Hampden XI, and the Victoria XI. On December 21 st 1914 the Evening Times reported that 23 Queen s Park players that had played in the league side either in the current season or in the previous season were now serving with His Majesty s Forces. By January 1915, the Queen s Park goalkeeper and captain Gordon Kerr was, at 23 years of age, two years older than anyone else in the team. The contribution made by Queen s Park to the war effort was widely recognised. The Southern Press report on the Falkirk versus Queen s Park match on Saturday February 13 th 1915 stated that there was a remarkably large turnout of men in khaki, and the field had quite a military appearance. Queen s Park had a most flattering reception, and as the play proceeded the enthusiasm of the men in uniform knew no bounds. It is seldom that a visiting team gets such a warm reception. Those in khaki did not forget that Queen s Park have at least three teams doing duty in another field, and every encouragement was given to the youthful eleven who were representing the Hampden club on Saturday. In that first season of the war 49 different players appeared for the first XI and in some weeks it came down to fielding whichever eleven men were available on the day. Inevitably, the drain on the club s playing resources had an effect on performances on the field, with only four wins and five draws. Matters improved somewhat in the following season and, on Saturday May 5 th 1916, the Southern Press reported that Queen s Park brought their League engagements to a close on Saturday afternoon. A club which gives nearly 100 of its members and players to a more worthy campaign and can still hold its own on the football field is entitled to congratulations, which no one will withhold from Queen s Park, who have gained 28 points as compared with 13 last season, and risen two places on the League table. Whilst Queen s Park continued to function on and off the field at home in Glasgow the war itself cast an increasingly dark shadow. From Belgium, France, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East news increasingly came of those members, players and supporters killed, wounded or missing. 19

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