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McCrae's Battalion: The Story of the 16th Royal Scots
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Review
'Do not ask where Hearts are playing and then look at me askance. If it's football that you're wanting, you must come with us to France!' Private George Blaney, Castle Brewery, Edinburgh, December 1914
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
The Times
'Magnificent, compelling, quite simply the best football related book of the year.'
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
18 of 18 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is a stunningly good book. It is part football story, part social history, part military history, part political history. However categorised, it is superbly well written, with intelligence and a nice dry sense of humour. There is also just the occasional "Edinburgh-ism" in the language which natives will enjoy.
The football story is the birth of Heart of Midlothian football club and the first forty years of its life, leading to the famous (in Edinburgh at least) voluntary (although as the book shows not quite spontaneous) mass enlistment of the players into the army in 1914. There is a fine description of how manager John McCartney in a couple of years turned a bottom half of the league side into championship contenders.
There is also a wonderful evocation of the social and political life of Edinburgh of the time and of the complex and intimate relationship between the classes.
It is also a military history of the Western Front, a new slant on a familiar story made more poignant and tragic by the link to the rich civilian life portrayed beforehand.
It is far from a simple tale of heroes, and deals with the complexity of the emotions of and influences on those who rose to do their patriotic duty but before doing so were pursued by the proffering of white feathers by those who never had and never would fight for their country.
The complexity is hinted at by a quote from Pat Crossan, one of the players who volunteered. For a long time he was apparently remembered fondly in Edinburgh for turning, during one of a sequence of recruiting marches and events around Edinburgh, and saying to a potential recruit "Have you got bairns? Well then, dinnae be sae daft", thus incurring the displeasure of Colonel George McCrae.
I have not even mentioned McCrae, a fascinating man himself. But I would reserve the title of hero of this book for all of those whom John McCartney described as he saw them leave Waverley Station for the unimaginable horrors ahead as "the finest men I have known".
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
As one who has a great interest in the Great War as well as the Heart of Midlothian Football Club I waited earnestly for this books publication. It was worth the wait!
Not only does Jack Alexander give the background to the Hearts mobilisation, but he relates a story of Edinburgh life in 1914.
The social rise of McCrae himself, from poverty to knighthood. The footballers on the verge of a championship, the mass of others, students, artisans, fans etc who put aside their hopes and fears and laid their lives on the line are covered in excellent detail by Alexander.
A wealth of detail, from a decade of research, put together with a readable, and very enjoyable narrative leaves us with a book that is hard to put down!
This however is a book that rings true throughout the UK. It reflects the lives of ordinary men from all walks of life who went of to serve in a cause greater than anything else in their own individual lives.
A Great Book for the Great War reader. A must read!
Not only does Jack Alexander give the background to the Hearts mobilisation, but he relates a story of Edinburgh life in 1914.
The social rise of McCrae himself, from poverty to knighthood. The footballers on the verge of a championship, the mass of others, students, artisans, fans etc who put aside their hopes and fears and laid their lives on the line are covered in excellent detail by Alexander.
A wealth of detail, from a decade of research, put together with a readable, and very enjoyable narrative leaves us with a book that is hard to put down!
This however is a book that rings true throughout the UK. It reflects the lives of ordinary men from all walks of life who went of to serve in a cause greater than anything else in their own individual lives.
A Great Book for the Great War reader. A must read!
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
This is an excellent account of a long forgotten story and particulary odd behaviour by some sections of society during the Great War. Behaviour now largely forgotten. Who would know a stopper now!! This book is superbly written and a joy to read. Jack deserves a bestseller with this and anyone interested in the Great War, social history, military history or football have just got to read it.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
mcraes
terrific book,it should be compulsory reading in scottish schools,ignore the celebrity garbage and buy this,learn about real people who gave their lives ,
Published 5 months ago by pearsons great nephew
scottish history
a part of scottish history that could so easily have been lost.read this book in a weekend just could not put it down
Published 9 months ago by Dave 01
Interesting
This was purchased as a Christmas present for my Son & he is delighted with the story so far & proud of the book.
Published 16 months ago by M. Brown
Jack Alexander's Mcraes Battalion
Perhaps the best recent historical text on the Great war, perhaps the best ever. Characterized by a precise attention to detail that never slips from the wider picture it gives a... Read more
Published 21 months ago by C. G. Herbertson
simply stunning, would make a wonderful film
I read this book on the reccommendation of a friend, although with some trepidation since the Great war is not my usual reading material but I was blown away by this. Read more
Published on 31 Dec 2009 by Briony Hardy
Great reading. Felt you were wth them.
My grandfather was in the Great War, at the Somme twice, and wounded twice. Paschendale(Ypres), and Mons. But with the Scottish Rifles. Read more
Published on 15 May 2009 by Aphc Laird
McCrae's Battalion
Took me a while to get into it but the research that has gone into this is outstanding and is a worthy tribute to the bravery of the men who gave their lifes in what was such a... Read more
Published on 10 April 2009 by Midland Blue
Great Read
This is a well researched and well written book that fascinates from the beginning. Very sad but also uplifting.
Published on 4 Feb 2009 by D. R. Andrew
Remarkable
I'm not much given to superlatives but this has to be the best Great War Unit history I've ever read, and I've read hundreds!! Read more
Published on 9 Jan 2008 by Mr. M. T. Mcneela
Wonderful thought provoking and moving piece of work
This book should be academic text for both universities and schools and I say this as a history graduate. Read more
Published on 19 July 2006 by Ally
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