Celtic F.C. and World War I
Encyclopedia
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. Seven former Celtic
Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
players died.
Background
In the early 20th Century Celtic F.C.Celtic F.C.
Celtic Football Club is a Scottish football club based in the Parkhead area of Glasgow, which currently plays in the Scottish Premier League. The club was established in 1887, and played its first game in 1888. Celtic have won the Scottish League Championship on 42 occasions, most recently in the...
was already a successful club having won 10 Scottish League Championships and 8 Scottish Cups in their 26 year history (by 1914). Celtic also won trophies during the war (four Scottish League Championship and one Scottish Cup), however of the 908,371 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the fighting, seven were former Celtic players. They were Patrick Slavin, Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond "Dick" Roose, MM, was a Welsh international footballer who kept goal for a number of professional clubs in the Football League between 1901 and 1912. A celebrated amateur at a time when the game was played largely by professionals, Roose was renowned as one of the best players in...
, Donnie McLeod, Archie McMillan, Robert Craig, John McLaughlin and Peter Johnstone. Roose and Slavin died in the Battle of the Somme (1916), four others died in 1917 and Craig died in 1918.
The men who died
Leigh Roose
RooseLeigh Richmond Roose
Leigh Richmond "Dick" Roose, MM, was a Welsh international footballer who kept goal for a number of professional clubs in the Football League between 1901 and 1912. A celebrated amateur at a time when the game was played largely by professionals, Roose was renowned as one of the best players in...
was a Welsh goalkeeper who was on loan at Celtic in 1910. He had 24 caps for Wales and a Doctorate in Bacteriology before he joined the 9th Royal Fusiliers in 1914. He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal
Lance Corporal
Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organizations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer, usually equivalent to the NATO Rank Grade OR-3.- Etymology :The presumed...
and was awarded the Military Medal
Military Medal
The Military Medal was a military decoration awarded to personnel of the British Army and other services, and formerly also to personnel of other Commonwealth countries, below commissioned rank, for bravery in battle on land....
before his death on 7 October 1916 between the hours of 1.45pm and 9.00pm in the Battle for Montauban
Montauban-de-Picardie
Montauban-de-Picardie is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France.-Geography:The commune is situated on the D64 road, some northeast of Amiens.-First World War:...
. His regiment was sent to attack the enemy line and it is believed that he died as a result of heavy machine gun fire and shelling when his regiment came under attack (he is recorded as missing on the Thiepval Memorial). On that day it is recorded 25 died, 165 missing and 132 wounded.
Patrick Slavin
Slavin was the 2nd player to die while playing under Celtic. He rose to the rank of Sergeant and was with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and died November 13, 1916 in the 2nd Battle for the village of Serre. The day he died it was reported that there was thick fog by 5am and that the enemy's barbed wire was not cut, he is reported to been shot dead after "going over the top", that day 23 died, 84 missing and 177 wounded.John McLaughlin
McLaughlin's records are scant which is an indication that he may never have made a first team appearance for Celtic. However, it is known that he played for Mossend Hibs and Renton. He held the rank of private and was in the 11th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry. He was injured on 23 April 1917 when his battalion came under fire at the Battle of Calvary Farm at Monchy Le Preux which is north of ArrasArras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
. He did not survive his wounds and died on 10 May 1917.
Peter Johnstone
Johnstone was a pre-war Celtic legend who had played for Celtic 223 times and was one of the players who won the league 6 times in a row under Willie MaleyWillie Maley
William "Willie" Patrick Maley , 25 April 1868 - 2 April 1958, Glasgow, Scotland was a famous Scottish football coach, and the first manager of Celtic Football Club and one of the most successful managers in Scottish football history...
. Peter joined the 6th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders. He died on the 16/05/1917, when his regiment were told to capture a chemical factory as part of the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
. In the 2 day battle it was reported 43 died, 26 missing and 51 wounded, although he among the missing, rumours of his death were spread around Glasgow which were confirmed on 06/06/1917. His name is engraved on the Arras Memorial.
Archie McMillan
McMillan was an outside left who made his debut against RangersRangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in 1913. He held the rank of Private and was in the 1st/7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. From 21 to 23 November 1917, his regiment was involved in heavy fighting in the Battle of Cambrai. Their orders were to capture the village of Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Aisne
Fontaine-Notre-Dame, Aisne
Fontaine-Notre-Dame is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-References:*...
and although they were successful he was shot dead and was among the 9 dead, 22 missing and 128 wounded. He is buried in a British war cemetery in Manancourt.
Donald McLeod
McLeod was a full back who played 155 times for Celtic from 1902-08. He was a gunner in the 466th Battery of the 65th Royal Field Artillery. It is known that he died of his injuries on 6 October 1917 the cause of them is unknown. However it is most certain that he died in Belgium and was involved (or died) in the Battle of Passchendaele.Donald McLeod is buried in Dozingham Military Cemetery ,Westvleteren,Belgium,Plot 5,Row G,Grave 7.
Robert Craig
Craig was the final former Celtic player to die in the war. His career lasted 3 years at Celtic from 1906-1909, he was a full-back and played 13 times for the club, he was a private in the 5th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers and died on 19/04/1918. He died of his wounds from 11/04/1918 when the enemy re-captured the town of MesenMesen
Mesen is a city located in the Belgian province of West Flanders. The municipality only comprises the town of Mesen proper. On January 1, 2006, Mesen had a total population of 988. The total area is 3.58 km² which gives a population density of 276 inhabitants per km².Mesen is the smallest city in...
in Belgium. He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery.
Robert Craig is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery,Plot 9,Row A,Grave 3.
William Angus VC
William AngusWilliam Angus
William Angus VC was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
played for Celtic and was awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in 1915. He was awarded this medal for his bravery and valour in saving Lt James Martin who was lying a few feet from the German line. However, he lost an eye, damaged a foot and was wounded 40 times in the process. When he came home to Scotland he was given a hero's welcome and was always a guest of honour in major football matches. He also became the president of Carluke Rovers FC and held that position until his death.
Charity
Despite not being actively involved in the conflict, the people at home made valuable contributions to the war effort. In 1918 Celtic won the Navy and Army War Fund ShieldNavy and Army War Fund Shield
The Navy and Army War Fund Shield was a competition contested in the Spring of 1918, the aim of this competition was to raise money for the footballers and their families who fought in World War I...
, a friendly tournament that Celtic and a few other teams agreed to take part as a fundraising event to give money to footballers and their families who fought in the war.