At the outbreak of the First World War, the British Red Cross and the Order of St John of Jerusalem combined to form the Joint War Committee. They pooled their resources under the protection of the red cross emblem. As the Red Cross had secured buildings, equipment and staff, the organisation was able to set up temporary hospitals as soon as wounded men began to arrive from abroad.
It is no exaggeration to describe the Scottish fighting soldier as a legend. History bears witness to this. To add to this, more often than not, he was a willing volunteer.
In the First World War, Lord Kitchener's volunteers, drawn from all parts of the nation from 1914 until conscription had to be introduced in 1916, were seen by their contemporaries as the cream of the nation. The highest number of volunteers per head of the population throughout the UK came from Scotland and Scots from all walks of life enlisted with great enthusiasm.
Saturday 12th September 2015 to Thursday 31st December 2015.