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A Scottish Royal
Army Medical Corps
lieutenant at
the Front
Excerpts from the
Diary of Patrick
Cameron Macrae
(1889-1917)
Giulio Pertile shares excerpts from the
wartime diary of an Inverness-born army
lieutenant whose journal entries and sketches
from 1915 provide a lively and poignant
DR PATRICK CAMERON MACRAE, M, A, M, B" CR, B,
window into trench life in France

N
obody knows our abortive Jacobite uprising in 1719). Dr Patrick Cameron Officers’ Training Corps; he was also
destination... Thus reads Patrick grew up in Dalwhinnie, where Macrae from his president of the Celtic Society and
an early entry in the war his father John was station master, obituary notice in captain of the Shinty team. (It was with
diary of Patrick Cameron and excelled in the local schools as his Celtic Monthly, May some justice, then, that his obituary
Macrae, my great- prize copy of Wordsworth still attests: 1917 would describe him as ‘one of the most
grandmother’s brother. Patrick – a From Dalwhinnie he went on to promising young Celts of to-day.’) On
lieutenant in the Royal Army Medical the University of Edinburgh, where taking his degree in 1915 he joined
Corps – had shipped for France from he studied surgery and enrolled in the the 50th Field Ambulance, which was
Southampton two nights before on attached to the 37th Division, as
29 July 1915. He started his diary, a lieutenant.
which he regularly punctuated with Along with his diary, which he kept
sketches such as those featured on the in a standard-issue ‘Army Book 152’,
following pages, on departing from Patrick also took his bagpipes with
Southampton. Now, on 1 August, he him to the Front. He found a good
and the other men of the 50th Field excuse to take them out the day after
Ambulance were leaving Le Havre. leaving Le Havre: ‘[m]et old friend
As the train pulled out of the city he Macpherson in A.S.C. also billeted
took note: ‘First signs of war – some here – played a tune on the bagpipes
German prisoners loading wagons – for his benefit in the evening’ (2 Aug).
great burly men.’ On an idle afternoon just over two
Born in Inverness, Patrick was a weeks later at Hazebrouck, he took
Macrae on both sides of his family; Patrick’s school out his bagpipes again to strike up a
his parents had moved there from record from famous Scottish march: ‘Enjoying
Lochalsh and Glenshiel, where Kingussie Public little nap in tent on stretcher
Macraes had lived for hundreds of School, noting his Roddy playing tin whistle others
years, in the last decades of the 19th excellent adacemic out – when Brigadier General
century (Glenshiel was the site of an achievements appears at tent door much to our

32 H I S TO RY S COT LA ND - MA RC H / A P RI L 2018
World War I

to be inducted into the Scottish Sports


Hall of Fame (in 2002), Cattanach
was from Newtonmore – right next
to Dalwhinnie. In 1912 he graduated
from the University of Edinburgh,
where he too was a medical student;
like Patrick he joined the RAMC. The
two of them would have grown up
together, and most likely would have
played side-by-side for the Shinty team
at Edinburgh.
The 37th division would not see
major action until the final stages of
the battle of the Somme in 1916, and
thus for the first few months of their
deployment Patrick and his company
had plenty of idle moments. Between
periodic stints near the front, tending
to wounded soldiers and shuttling
them between various dressing stations,
he and the others filled the time with
cards, smoking, and the occasional
football match. And, as Patrick writes
on 14 August, he also ‘discovered latent
talent for sketching – passed the time
thusly.’ The sketches often serve to
illustrate moments of comic relief: on
5 August, for example, ‘Staff Sgt fell
into cess-pool in middle of yard – men
highly amused especially as he is not
very popular at any rate.’
Another entry describes a visit
from General Plumer: ‘I had to
stand at attention with one wasp
hovering round my nose and another
crawling over my hand – dared not
move. – General quite satisfied – we
duly thankful.’ Again, the situation is
illustrated by a sketch (left).
As an officer, Patrick was charged
with censoring letters home from
consternation – enquires with veiled Patrick enlivened his 7 August, for example, he ‘[s]aw two his men, often to his amusement:
sarcasm if ‘this is the hospital.’ – diary entries with Frenchmen fishing – conversed with ‘Censored some letters for first
very unfortunate. After Brigadier well sketches showing them – had a trial but no luck – wished time – some rather amusing. One
away – bethought myself of a quiet memorable and I were on Loch Erricht’ (Aug 7). man writes to six different girls –
tune on the bagpipes and had just humorous incidents Loch Erricht is half a mile away from each letter couched in exactly the
begun the “79th’s”when another staff the railway station at Dalwhinnie, same terms’ (3 Aug); ‘Zeppelin
officer appeared – he seemed rather and so Patrick would have known it reported brought down – one man
amused than annoyed – fear 50th F.A. very well: his obituary in the Celtic writing home gives lurid but wholly
won’t have much of a reputation for Monthly mentions that ‘shooting and imaginary description of fight in
hard work’ (Aug 21). fishing [had] a particular charm for mid-air. All he could have seen was
Patrick and his friends do seem to him, especially when participated in, reflection of shells busting miles
have gained a reputation, if not for on or near Loch Erricht, where he away’ (9 Aug). It was probably
idleness, then for Scottishness: ‘Route spent many a day and night.’ Three a similar letter that inspired the
march in afternoon – Macfarlane, days later, on 10 August in Saint-Jans- following sketch: ‘Extract from letter
Campbell and I in charge so that men Cappel, Patrick was given a more home – “As I write this, shells are
sang Scotch songs and whistled Scotch sobering reminder of his boyhood bursting all around.”’ As Patrick wryly
airs all the way presumably for our world: ‘great shock to see Johnnie indicates, the shells are 6, 8, and 10
benefit’ (Aug 30). Cattanach’s name in list – died of miles away.
Patrick’s reminiscences of the wounds in Dardanelles – a great Nevertheless Patrick’s diary does
Highlands were not limited to the sportsman and one of the best fellows testify to moments of genuine danger:
occasional tune on the bagpipes. On I ever knew. ‘ The only Shinty player ‘One of Bedford’s officers has been

H I S TO RY S COT LA ND - MA RC H / A P RI L 2018 33
www.historyscotland.com

shot by a sniper – rumour in fact Scottish-Greek cultural encounter. As the war dumbfounded colleague: The point of
almost confirmed that Belgian snipers There is a moving sense not only progressed, Patrick’s the joke seems to be the Highlander’s
are employed by the Germans behind of the Greek villagers’ fascination sketches became great, even excessive wonder at the
the lines and well paid for picking with this bizarrely costumed man, more detailed seemingly ordinary sight of a pair of
off officers – hope they don’t pick producing what probably sounded like oxen – what he calls ‘Bovids’ – pulling a
me off’ (21 Aug). It is, he notes a a kind of demonic dirge, but also of cart. Perhaps he has never seen such a
few days later, a ‘nervous business Patrick himself, in increasingly foreign sight before, or perhaps he simply can’t
being continually challenged by more backgrounds, simply playing and quite believe that ordinary oxen pull
nervous soldiers with loaded rifle on marching on. carts here in Greece as well, so different
the way’ (27 Aug). In Salonika Patrick encountered the are the context and the costumes.
Even in this experience, however, he Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, Certainly to Patrick the scene would
finds occasion for a sketch: ‘Despite who had been stationed there since have been a familiar one.
the fact that the RAMC companies November; he dined together with At some point in early 1916 Patrick
were generally stationed hundreds of them on New Years’ Eve 1915. They contracted malaria, and stopped
yards behind the front line, stray bullets furnished material for more comic making written entries in his diary.
could easily reach them: Some of men takes on the Scottish-Greek encounter. Opposite: Patrick’s He did, however, continue to sketch,
at door and bullet … just missed them ‘Look, Jock! There’s a cairt passin’ an’ transfer notice, with finding material for his drawings even
and hit the wall – lots going through there’s two ‘Bovids’ pullin’ it’ exclaims the poignant note in his own illness. The sketches also
the trees. A little later while reading in one Highlander to his somewhat ‘insane’ become more elaborate. In the drawing
Dressing Room another hit the roof
just above and brought down some
plaster’ (Oct 4).
The next day, however, the room
receives a friendlier visit: ‘Room
invaded later by a kitten from
somewhere – took refuge under a chair
and surveyed me from its shelter – later
got quite friendly and gave it some milk
– Swiss condensed – which sealed our
friendship’ (Oct 5).
Patrick’s first visit to the trenches,
meanwhile, is marked by a moment
of grim comedy: ‘It’s a funny war
– Germans well informed – when
east Lancs arrive there first night –
the Germans hailed them through
megaphone: ‘Hello – are you the East
Lancs? You are relieving the Bedfords –
Don’t make such a d – d row with your
transport’ (19 Sep). At other moments
Patrick seems able to find a strange
beauty in it all: ‘went with Lcpol and
appendix case in car to CCS [Casualty
clearing station] at Bailleul – enjoyable
spin in moonlight – reflection of shells
over Ypres very vivid’ (10 Aug).
In November 1915, Patrick
was transferred to the 80th Field
Ambulance, with whom he sailed
to Salonika and the Balkan Front in
December. Written entries are fewer
in number here, but the sketches
opposite become more vivid; they also
suggest that in Greece, at the border
between Europe and the East, Patrick’s
sense of his own Scottishness became
even more pronounced. But although
Patrick initially describes Salonika as
‘a filthy town filled with murderous
looking Greeks Turks etc., ‘the
following sketch, drawn a few months
later, offers a more benign take on the

34 H I S TO RY S COT LA ND - MA RC H / A P RI L 2018
ONLINE
RESEARCH
In the first of a new series on
online research, we share some of
the History Scotland team’s favourite
websites and blogs

1.The Records of the Parliaments of Scotland


to 1707
A fully searchable database of the proceedings of
the Scottish Parliament from the first surviving
Act of 1235, through to the 1707 Union. The
below, for example, the ‘Huns’ latest’ died – suggests the full nature of his database is the culmination of more than ten
consists of ‘breeding mosquitoes and condition at this point. years’ work by researchers from the Scottish
waiting for a favourable wind’ (pg. 34, One of the last sketches in the Parliament Project at the University of St
top right). diary seems to have been drawn in Andrews School of History, and is free to use.
The poet Rupert Brooke had died Marseilles, on his journey back home.
a few months before from a mosquito The diary ceases after this point, www.rps.ac.uk
bite, and Patrick, a doctor, undoubtedly but an obituary published in May
knew the danger he was in.Yet there is 1917 reveals that in January of that 2. Canmore
in this sketch a comic contrast between year Patrick’s ‘great desire to return Explore more than 320,000 records and over a
the seriousness and complexity of to his Highland hills was realised. million catalogue entries relating to buildings,
the Huns’ plan and the triviality of It gives a brief account of what and archaeological, maritime and industrial
death brought on by a mosquito, must have been the heartrending sites around Scotland. The site is complied and
just as Brooke’s own unheroic death final months before his death on managed by Historic Environment Scotland,
emblematised the demise of the gallant 5 March: ‘it appeared that health with records added on a daily basis, and there are
and chivalric spirit for which he and his and strength were returning, and also online galleries of archive photographs and
poetry had stood at the War’s outset. on this account the end came as a drawings featuring buildings, villages and towns,
In another sketch, which has an almost very great shock and sorrow to his as well as specific periods of history.
feverish aspect to it, Patrick satirically family and innumerable friends. In
offered a ‘Suggested Plan of Camp the future that seemed to stretch https://canmore.org.uk
(Diagrammatic) when water is scarce’. before him,’ it concludes, ‘Doctor
The sketch is supplemented by an Macrae’s disposition bade fair to be 3. Scottish History Network blog
exhaustive guide to its different aspects: his greatest asset and charm – for This popular weekly blog features guest writers
‘L = Fly gnashing its teeth. This ability, gentleness, a certain gaiety and from universities, heritage organisations and
scheme would, after all, have prevented chivalry found their embodiment in museums & galleries around the country, as well
the formation of the standing pools in him.’ Looking through the pages of as news, events, calls for papers and new research
which mosquitoes and other insects his diary a century later, one still feels in the fields of history, heritage and archaeology.
could breed. The date on this last the justice of that assessment.
sketch ‘10/10/26’ may be intended to https://scottishhistorynetwork.wordpress.
suggest some future point in a war Dr Giulio Pertile received his BA in com
which seemed never-ending, but it English from Harvard, his MPhil in
may also reflect a delirium brought English from Cambridge, and his PhD in
on by Patrick’s malaria. In late 1916, Comparative Literature from Princeton. Get regular history, heritage and archaeology
Patrick was invalided back to a He has held research fellowships from the news and updates when you sign up to the
hospital in England, and an official log American Council of Learned Societies History Scotland e-newsletter: http://scot.sh/
of soldiers’ effects – which mostly lists and the Huntington Library in San HSXenews
the possessions of soldiers who have Marino, CA.

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