Lest we forget

Today (Friday 1 July) marks the 100th anniversary of the Battle of the Somme where thousands of Scottish soldiers died.As part of Scottish Rugby’s tribute to the fallen we recount the story of three of the past members of Cartha Queens Park in Glasgow who lost their lives that day.James Turnbull who won his Victoria Cross on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, at the Leipzig Salient, Authuille. Two other members of the Cartha club are known to have died with him on the same day – Hugh F McKenzie and Callum Arthur MacNaughton.Pals battalionsThe three friends had joined up together in one of the ‘pals battalions’ which were common during the First War.Today is a poignant moment in Cartha’s 127 year old history (1889 to 2016 ) and the club is remembering those who made the ultimate sacrifice in order to sustain and secure our current freedoms.To put this into context on day one of the Battle of the Somme, often described as the the killing fields, the largest loss of life ever suffered by British Forces occurred. In that one day 19,240 British soldiers died.Today’s programme12 noon local time: laying of Cartha wreaths by Allan Ferguson and Liam Kane at the official Commonwealth War Graves Thiepval Memorial in Northern France after the French Government and British Legion Commemoration Ceremony12:30pm: Victoria Cross paving stone unveiling ceremony at the Dalton Fountain ( People’s Palace ) for James Turnbull VC by the Rt Hon The Lord Provost of Glasgow, Councillor Sadie Docherty guests include relatives of James Turnbull VC and Gordon Miller President of Cartha QP.3pm onwards access to replica Allied and German trenches in Pollok Park with paper poppies prepared by Cartha’s kids’ and youth section for the past Cartha members named on their clubhouse roll of honour / war memorial.6pm in the Cartha Clubhouse Dumbreck Road G41 4SN a commemoration ceremony led by an ex-Cartha player Fraser MacNaughton the minster of St Magnus Cathedral Orkney ( Fraser and his family will also present the club with a photograph of their great uncle Callum MacNaughton. as part of the ceremony. Callum was club secretary of Cartha and died at an early age during the battle of the Somme. Closing words of thanks from Club President Gordon Miller followed by a Cartha reception with a complimentary buffet.As you read the below background about the Cartha Pals who lost their life’s in WWI it is hard to comprehend that of the 110 Cartha members engaged in the conflict only just over 60 % of them returned home to their loved ones and their sports club – Lest we forget .All welcome. Background :-The Cartha War MemorialThe Club War Memorial on display in the clubhouse records the names of those who died in the conflict.They gave their lives in the Somme, in India, in Gallipoli, in Belgium, and through illness at a training camp. They included ex-president James Howatt, hockey international goalkeeper Dean Farquhar, Calum MacNaughton, secretary in 1913 and 1914, and his successor William Gow who had taken up as secretary in March 1915.During it’s construction after much debate, in the club post WWI it was agreed by the narrowest of margins that the only gallantry award to be shown on the memorial should be the posthumous award of the Victoria Cross to Sgt. James Yuill Turnbull.Thus the heroism of Lt. Col. Gavin L Wilson11 DSO MC (a young member of the 1913-14 rugby XV) and Capt. J H Logan MC, to name only two of those whose details are in the minutes, goes unrecorded on the War Memorial.The cost of the War Memorial was limited to£40£50 and in due course it was obtained. The cast-bronze plaque was unveiled on 21 April 1923 by the President, Robert Liston, and the Rev. S J Ramsay Sibbald. Sergeant James Yuill Turnbull VCJames Turnbull won his Victoria Cross on the first day of the battle of the Somme, 1 July 1916, at the Leipzig Salient, Authuille. Two other members of the Club are known to have died with him on the same day – Hugh F McKenzie and Callum Arthur MacNaughton.The three friends had joined up together in one of the ‘pals battalions’ which were common during the First War. Young men from companies such as the Glasgow tram company, or the same profession, marched together to the recruitment office and signed up. As a consequence, they were engaged in the same conflicts, where they were often wounded or died together.Men from the same town enlisted; when they suffered catastrophic casualties and died together, local newspapers would be filled with lists of dead, wounded and missing, for weeks after the action.The following extract is taken from the The Seventeenth Highland Light Infantry, which describes the history of the regiment of that name formed by the Glasgow Chamber of Commerce.It has been said of James Turnbull that he began to win his V.C. at Troon [where the regiment trained]. He was a born leader, and always a fearless champion of fairplay.He towered above the average man in strength of character as he did in stature, and he was always the same unassuming and genial “Jimmy”. He was a fitting embodiment of the ideals of the Seventeenth. A big man for a big occasion – and the big occasion came along on the 1st of July, 1916.The position of the Battalion was that of a wedge driven against the iron of impregnability, and the driving force suddenly withdrawn. At the thin end of the wedge Sergeant Turnbull, with a handful of men, performed prodigies of valour. From three sides enemy machine guns swept the position, snipers took deadly toll, and bombing attacks were constantly launched. Exposure meant almost certain death.The position was not only desperate; it was hopeless. Yet it was necessary to hold on till nightfall. It was a man’s job, and Turnbull filled the bill. He shouldered the responsibility as only a strong man could; and he organised the defence. He had to take countless risks and was always where the fighting was fiercest. He was the indomitable leader and inspiring example. Wounded, he carried on till his last risk was taken, and he met a soldier?s death towards the end of that fateful summer day.Of a band of heroes he was the beloved leader and super-hero.?