Aberdeen in the Great War

Chapter One

1914 – EAGER FOR A FIGHT

Rising tensions in Europe and the assassination of Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia. This led to the Central Powers, which included Germany and Austria-Hungary, and the Allies, which included the British Empire, the French Republic and the Russian Empire, to declare war on each other, which led to the commencement of the First World War on 28 July 1914.

On 4 August, newspaper offices posted announcements in their windows stating that Britain had declared war on Germany.

The Aberdeen Evening Express reported:

A remarkable wave of patriotism is being experienced in the city and everywhere there are signs of a ready response immediately the signal is given to mobilise the local forces. The actual strength of the Territorial Forces in the city is 2,971, but this number can be augmented by the mobilisation of about 1,000 National Reservists.

Today, animated scenes were witnessed at the headquarters of the 4th Gordon Highlanders in Woolmanhill, where a number of eligible men were enrolled.

Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria. Ferdinand's assassination in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 led to Austria-Hungary's declaration of war on Serbia which ultimately led to the beginning of the First World War.

The Aberdeen Naval Reservists being called out on Sunday 2 August 1914. The photo shows mobilising at the headquarters in James Street. The inset photo shows 'Jack' reading the latest news.

On the part of ex-servicemen, there has been equal activity and for the past few days, the offices of the City of Aberdeen Territorial Force Association have been besieged with men eager to enrol in one or other of the classes of the National Reserve.

The ranks of Territorial and Reservists alike are agog with excitement and enthusiasm.

The 4th Battalion Gordon Highlanders is still some 200 short of its establishment and although this number should easily be made up at this time, it is likely that the vacancies on mobilisation will be filled with the ranks of the second class of the National Reserve, as men joining now must go through preliminary training before they would be able to take their place in a battalion on active service.

The Aberdeen Evening Express of Tuesday 4 August reported on 'Aberdeen's Anxiety'. The article read:

Briefly, the following are the chief concerns where Aberdeen is concerned:

There is an extraordinary rush for food in the city. The prices of many products have been advanced and householders are laying in stocks.

The industry of the city is being slowly crippled. Fifteen thousand workers in the fish and allied trade, with their thousands of dependants, have had their means of support withdrawn.

A complete stoppage of the granite industry may be expected at any time.

Full supplies of coal are stored in the city and prices have not changed. Owing to the laying up of the trawlers, steam coal is unsaleable.

Sugar has advanced 5s per cwt and flour 9s to 10s per sack.

Merchants are disposing of their goods in small quantities only.

One or two firms have increased the price of bread by ½d per 4lb loaf. The price of petrol has been about doubled and motorists are in plight owing to the impossibility of securing supplies of the spirit.

No communication has been received from the Baltic ports, where a number of Aberdeen vessels are lying, since Tuesday.

A prohibition order has been issued at the harbour forbidding the exportation of all kinds of goods which might be helpful to an enemy.

Abnormally high prices are being secured at the Fish Market and the supplies are good. More Admiralty mine-sweeping trawlers left the port during the day.

Great activity prevails at the Army headquarters throughout the city pending receipt of the mobilisation order tonight.

On Wednesday 5 August, the German trawler Else Kunkel arrived in Aberdeen and was arrested by the customs authorities.

People of foreign descent were quickly rounded up and detained. Anyone with a German-sounding accent soon came under suspicion of being a spy.

The railways were taken under government control under the Regulation of Forces Act of 1871. Local businesses were asked to supply motor vehicles for use by the army and businesses in and around Aberdeen were asked to supply horses.

Horses fared badly at the Front. Many were killed by artillery fire and were affected by skin conditions and poison gas. Hundreds of thousands of horses died during the conflict. Many horses were requisitioned from British civilians. However, Lord Kitchener stated that no horse under 15 hands should be confiscated. This was because many children showed a concern about the welfare of their ponies.

The Aberdeen Evening Express of 5 August reported on how people went about their business on the day after war was announced:

A German trawler seized at Aberdeen on Wednesday 5 August 1914 as a prize of war.

There were scenes of bustle and animation in the central parts of the city this afternoon. The weather was fine, and this, with the feeling of excitement in the community, attracted people out of doors to see what was going on and to hear the latest war news. Union Street in particular was crowded with people and the war prospects were being discussed with much interest and eagerness. Everywhere, Territorials were to be seen in the streets carrying their haversacks. In the earlier part of the day, the march of a number of Territorials, with field guns, in Union Street attracted much attention.

There is a great demand for the various editions of the 'Evening Express' containing the latest items of war news and the anxiety to glean all the information possible as to the movements of the hostile armies and fleets is an indication of the high tension of feeling in the public mind.

Also, on 5 August, court proceedings were reported in connection with the recent departure of naval reserves:

The departure of Naval Reservists from Aberdeen during the past two days found an echo in the Aberdeen Police Court this morning. Baillie Young, who presided, had to dispose of ten cases of drunkenness and disorderly conduct and imposed fines varying from 7s 6d to 15s. The excuse presented in most cases was that 'they had been down seeing their friends in the Naval Reserves leaving.' A large number of bails were forfeited.

Relatives wave off their loved ones at Aberdeen Station.

On 6 August, HMS Amphion, a Devonportbased cruiser, became the first Royal Navy casualty of the war. Amphion struck a mine, killing many men onboard while also incapacitating the captain.

William Douglas, a stoker on the illfated Amphion, was the son of Mr John Douglas, green keeper at the Aberdeen Links Course. He was 20 years old when he enlisted in the navy in the previous November. Formerly, he was employed at ‘Messrs Hall, Russell and Company’s’ Shipbuilding Yard.

On 7 August, it was reported that there had been much anxiety in the city as people awaited news of the fleet in the North Sea. During the previous day, rumours had circulated that firing had been heard in the North Sea and the impression was that a great engagement was in progress. The rumours, however, received no confirmation.

Army Reservists leaving Aberdeen station on Thursday 6 August 1914.

HMS Amphion was reported lost by the Aberdeen Evening Express of Monday 10 August 1914.

In the evening, there were animated scenes as people congregated in the centre of the town. The pavements of Union Street, George Street, St Nicholas Street and Market Street were congested and it seemed that the whole population was outdoors. No other subject was talked about other than the war and speculation was rife to the possibility that the British and German fleets had met in a decisive battle.

A huge and eager crowd gathered in Broad Street, opposite the Aberdeen Journal and Express Office, waiting with intense interest for any news of the battle. The crowds began to gather between eight and nine o'clock and by ten o'clock they stretched along Broad Street from Queen Street to Union Street, densely packed together.

W. J. Douglas, the son of Mr Douglas, the greenkeeper at Aberdeen Links Golf Course, went down with the illfated Amphion. HMS Amphion was the first Royal Naval ship to be sunk during the First World War. On 6 August, she struck a mine that had been laid by the German minelayer SMS Königin Luise. Further mines were hit and the ensuing explosion destroyed the ship. Approximately 150 British sailors were killed.

Kitchener's recruitment poster, 'Your country needs you!' A huge recruitment campaign encouraged young men to join-up. By January 1915, almost one million men had enlisted. Pals battalions encouraged many to enlist and they ultimately provided enough men for three battalions.

The movement of troops in the city attracted much attention. The departure of a large number of the Gordon Highlanders Army Reserves brought much patriotic enthusiasm. Two to three thousand people gave the troops a hearty send off at the Joint Station.

The 4th Gordon Highlanders leaving from the Joint Station at Aberdeen on Monday 10 August 1914.

A large number of motorcyclists came to Aberdeen on Sunday 9 August 1914 in order to carry the special war edition of the Aberdeen Express to the country towns and districts. The photo shows Mr Cooper, from Insch, the first arrival, leaving the newspaper offices on Sunday morning.

The Aberdeen Journal reported:

The city is gradually assuming more and more of a military aspect. Everywhere, Territorials are to be seen in the streets, some in charge of lorries or other vehicles conveying stores and others off duty. The commandeering of horses still continues. At various business premises, the Territorials have been taking possession of animals and their movements have been watched with interest by groups of spectators.

The Red Cross Flag is now floating over the Royal Infirmary, the City Hospital and the Sick Children's Hospital. The clerk of the Infirmary has issued a notice to the effect that in consequence of the mobilisation of a large part of the medical, surgical and nursing staff, only emergency and serious cases will be admitted to the institution.

The Aberdeen Evening Express of Tuesday 18 August reported on the brisk recruitment in the city:

The 4th Gordon Highlanders on parade at Gordon's College on Sunday 9 August 1914.

The church parade of the 4th Gordon Highlanders at the battalion drum-head services at Gordon's College on Sunday