Scottish Rolls of Honour and Rolls of Service: A Neglected Source

Abstract

Although built memorials of the Great War have been the subject of academic research, rolls of honour and service have been accorded much less attention; nevertheless they are potentially of great interest and value for historians. This article examines rolls covering geographical areas of Scotland, showing that they often contain much more than lists of those who fought and those who died. As written documents, they are not so dependent as monuments are on symbolism to convey meaning and their overt language is more susceptible to analysis. Besides their obvious value for the study of family history and the history of particular localities in the war and soon after, they can be scrutinised as an example of how local history can add nuanced understanding of an international event and challenge generalisations based on limited evidence mainly from large urban areas. They are also illustrative of the thoughts and aspirations of the compilers, providing insights about perceptions not only of the Great War and perhaps war in general, but also of class, gender roles, religion, children and education. The rolls can contribute to debates about continuity and change, about modernism and tradition, as well as the interplay between local and national identities.