Hearts war heroes honoured

THE Hearts war heroes who lost their lives in one of the bloodiest battles of the First World War were honoured today by the Scottish Government.

Footballers and supporters from Hearts, Hibernian, Falkirk, Raith Rovers and Dunfermline were among the Scottish casualties at the Battle of the Somme.

Today is the anniversary of the start of the battle – which claimed the lives of some 20,000 men in the British Army, with a further 40,000 injured.

The footballers and supporters had all enlisted in the famous McRae's battalion. Despite huge losses, the batallion was credited with achieving the deepest penetration of the enemy line anywhere on the battlefront.

During the Battle of the Somme the Royal Scots were involved in attacks on the heavily fortified German trenches, close to the village of Contalmaison in France.

Communities minister Stewart Maxwell laid a wreath on behalf of the Scottish nation at the Contalmaison cairn memorial.

Mr Maxwell said: "Thousands of young Scottish men lost their lives on the first day of the Battle of the Somme, decimating communities and causing unimaginable sorrow for their families.

"Their sacrifice in defence of their nation has helped preserve Scotland's way of life and our democracy.

"It is very important that their courage, valour and sacrifice are recognised and never forgotten."