Courage of Scots soldiers marked in Battle of the Somme exhibition

The courage of Scots warriors is being marked by an exhibition at Fort George Barracks in the Highlands to recall the tragedy of the Battle of the Somme.

It was 110 years ago that battalions of the Seaforth and Cameron Highlanders and millions of other British, French and German soldiers fought in the battle named after the river that crossed through the Western Front.

Originally intended to bring WWI to a swift end, the battle instead lasted more than four months. It became infamous as one of the bloodiest, most costly engagements in British military history.

When it began on July 1, 1916, 13 British divisions were called on to take on formidable German defences. Most were made up of volunteers who joined the Army shortly after the outbreak of war in 1914.

Before the end of the battle in November the same year, due to the grim realities of industrialised warfare, their numbers grew to 50 divisions. The Seaforth and Camerons together sent a total of 12 battalions into the fray.

Ultimately, at the cost of about a million casualties, the conclusion saw the frontline around the Somme being moved six miles to the east.

The exhibition at The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George will run until summer next year STV News

An exhibition at The Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George, which runs until summer next year, offers an insight into the realities of trench warfare.

Museum curator Robert Kill said: “The battle was supposed to result in a fast and decisive victory that would break the stalemate on the Western Front.

“Instead, it turned into a gruelling battle of attrition with a previously unfathomable number of casualties. The lessons to be drawn from it remain pertinent to this day.”