Scottish sites in Fields

During the Great War, some 557 00 people enlisted in . Many more Scots enlisted in English regiments or in territorial regiments such as the or London Scottish. The below lists contains some of the main sites in the Salient linked to Scots who fought here during the Great War.

The 9th (Scottish) Divisional Memorial The Memorial for all Scottish soldiers who fell during the Great War is located near Frezenberg Ridge, one of the sites which was heavily fought over during the Battle of Menin Road (part of 3rd Ypres) on 20 September 1917. The Memorial was inaugurated by Queen Elizabeth II. The Memorial also commemorates the South African Brigade which served in the 9th Division.

Black Watch Corner The Corner Memorial at the edge of Polygon Wood remembers the actions of 10 November 1914 when several regiments, including the 1st Black Watch, held off a far larger German force, including the Prussian Guards. It honours the 8,960 Black Watch officers and soldiers killed and more than 20,000 who were wounded in the course of World War One.

Liverpool Scottish Memorial Stone The Liverpool Scottish, a territorial unit which was integrated in the King’s (Liverpool Regiment), took part in second wave of the "Battle of Hooge", officially known as the "First Attack at Bellewaarde", on16 June 1915. For about 1,000 yards of gained territory, the Liverpool Scottish had suffered heavy casualties: 79 killed, 212 wounded, and 109 missing from a pre-battle strength of 542 officers and other ranks. The memorial stone, showing the badge of the 10th (Scottish) Battalion, The King's (Liverpool Regiment), was originally the keystone of the Fraser Street barracks of the unit.

This is also the site where Captain Noel Chavasse was awarded his for rescuing the wounded from no-man’s land. This site is close to the Entry Point East and the Hooge Crater Museum.

London Scottish Memorial in Messines The 1st London Scottish were brought to the Salient by London buses, arriving in Ypres on the 30th of October. The situation during this time was fluid and confused, and they were twice sent out as reinforcements before orders changed and they were recalled. They finally went into the line at dawn on the 31st of October on the Wytschaete- Messines ridge. At 10 a.m. they moved up to the crest of the ridge on which stood a windmill. The memorial now stands more or less on that spot.

They held the position and drove back the attacking Germans, despite problems with their rifles. The enemy attacked again and again during the night and there was hand to hand fighting near the road. The next day, they were ordered to retreat. They had suffered nearly 400 casualties.