Bravery of Boys’ Brigade troops

Former Boys’Brigade members from across Rutherglen and the Glasgow area joined together to fight for King and country in World War One.

Stewart Rose, long-serving captain of of the 195 Wardlawhill Boys’Brigade, shared the story of how 851 of those men were killed in the conflict’s most notorious battles.

He gave a fascinating speech at last week’s World War One event in Rutherglen Town Hall. He explained how the BB members formed the 16th Highland Light Infantry Battalion, also known as the Boys’Brigade Battalion, and were sent to France on November 22, 1915.

Stewart (right) said:“Over the next four years the 16th was engaged in almost constant, unimaginably savage fighting in France and Flanders, most notably the Somme.

“Throughout that dreadful and bloody war, often fought in eternal mud, the 16th was involved in the thick of the fighting.

“Their record is quite outstanding. They were involved at battles notoriously associated with the terrible slaughter of the First World War. Places such as the Somme, Ypres, Verdun, Passchendale, Beaumont-Hamel and many more, before marching into Germany to end the war.”

The BB Battalion saw much action in France and Flanders from November 1915 until the Armistice was signed in November 1918.

Stewart said:“During 1915-1916, no fewer than 200 awards for bravery and distinghuised duty were awarded to the men of the Battalion and during that time 851 officers and men were killed in action.

“At the Somme alone 560 men were killed within the first few hours of the attack.”