Celtic and WW1 – We Shall Remember Our Bhoys, Our Heroes | OneFootball

105 years ago (22 May 1920), there was a notable event which connects Celtic to World War One. The Celts took part in a special match to raise funds for a Scottish National War Memorial. It was to be built to commemorate the dead of World War One…

This is the story of that event, and Celtic’s other First World War experiences.

World War One began in August 1914, and came to a conclusion in November 1918. It saw the death of millions of people, civilians and military alike, including at least 134,712 Scots. Many Celtic fans and players contributed to the war effort, at home and abroad.

Celtic had enjoyed notable success in the early-1900s. From 1905-10, the Bhoys set a then world record for six-in-a-row successive league titles. After this, their next championship win came in 1914, the last before war engulfed Europe.

In the summer of 1914, the Celts went on a European tour, travelling to Germany, Austria and Hungary. As they made their journey, they witnessed numerous signs of growing military tensions, including the transport of soldiers and the strengthening of defences.

Of course, within weeks, these countries would be at war, and some Celts – players and fans alike – would be back on the continent under very different circumstances.

Celtic v Burnley, May 1914

The most notable game of this tour was against English side, Burnley. Both teams were their respective countries’ national cup holders; Celtic had won the Scottish Cup in April 1914, beating Hibernian after a replay. That same month, Burnley beat Liverpool to claim the Clarets’ only FA Cup.

Playing in Budapest, the two sides drew 1-1. Although it was billed as a friendly, in fact it was a very rough game with both sides suffering injuries. This meant the destination of the trophy was not settled so it took a replay in Burnley in September 1914 for the Celts to win 2-1.

Celtic v Burnley, May 1914

Despite their victory, the Bhoys did not actually get any sort of prize until 1988! The trophy was lost amidst war, being sold off for charity. But in Celtic’s 1988 centenary season, Hungarian side Ferencvaros made up for this by presenting Celtic with a commemorative vase.

Ferencvaros v Celtic, May 1914

Scottish football changed a lot during the Great War. The Scottish League continued, but the Scottish Cup and international games were scrapped. Players’ wages were reduced and later capped at £1 per week. There were also restrictions on when games could be played, with Saturdays and holidays being the only acceptable times.

Until 1916, there was no conscription in the British Army; men had to volunteer to fight. There were national campaigns to persuade British men to join the military. This included millions of posters, newspaper articles and, of course, the impact of peer pressure.

Football was at the heart of these recruitment campaigns, including events at Celtic Park. The Bhoys’ ground was witness to parades, loudspeaker announcements, posters – and even bomb displays on the pitch. Many players signed up too, and this was used to encourage fans and others to do likewise.

There was a controversy around this. Although it is easy to think now that the entire country backed the war effort, this was not always the case. Many people saw the fighting as a capitalist conflict, one that would see working class men killed for no reason. Indeed, there were public protests against this in Glasgow and elsewhere across Scotland and Britain.

Willie Angus welcomed back to Celtic Park – flanked by Willie Maley and James Kelly

One estimate says that 53 former or current Celtic players fought in World War One. This included Willie Angus – who was awarded the Victoria Cross – and Frank Kelly, who died post-war in France. Other Celts were killed during the fighting, including Peter Johnstone, Robert Craig and Leigh Roose.

Peter Johnstone

Leigh Roose

At home, other Celtic men were part of the war effort, continuing to play football whilst working in jobs like shipyards and mines. One notable example was shipyard worker Patsy Gallacher – who was banned from playing for eight games as punishment for being late for work!

However, arguably the most famous football link with the war concerns Hearts. Many of their team joined the so-called ‘McRae’s battalion’ set up in Edinburgh by a former MP, with the hope being that many of the Tynecastle club’s fans would do the same. Seven of these players died during the war.

Season 1914-15 began on 15 August 1914, 11 days after Britain had joined the First World War. There had been debate about whether football should be played during the fighting, but the government decided to not ban the sport. In the opening match, Celtic lost 2-0 to Hearts, but by the end of the season, Celtic were Champions. The Bhoys also won the Charity Cup.

Season 1915-16 was another successful footballing experience for Celtic. They added two further trophies to their honours: the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup. The Hoops also won the League, and did so in very unusual circumstances.

Due to fixture congestion at the end of the season, Celtic had to play two games on the same day (15 April 1916) if they wanted to claim the title. The first match of the day was at home, with Celtic easily overcoming Raith Rovers by six goals to nil. The team then faced a rushed journey to Fir Park, where they beat Motherwell 2-1. This meant that, once again, Celtic were the Champions!

Celtic’s 1916-17 season had a very similar look to the previous year. The Bhoys retained the League title, which was their fourth in a row, including pre-war. They also triumphed in the Glasgow Cup and Charity Cup.

During the war, a charity game was held each year between the title winners, and a Scottish League Select. This raised funds for various causes connected to the conflict, including to support Belgian refugees that had fled their home after the German invasion.

As title winners in 1915, 1916 and 1917, Celtic played three times in this fixture, which was held at Hampden Park. Celtic’s only victory came in 1915 thanks to a Jimmy McColl goal. However, there was another more notable and poignant figure on the pitch that day.

Willie Maley and Peter Johnstone

Peter Johnstone played for the Celts more than 200 times. He won numerous competitions, including the 1915 and 1916 titles. However, in 1916, he joined the army and was sent to France. The 1917 Battle of Arras in northern France led to hundreds of thousands of casualties, including Johnstone, and he is buried near the site of the fighting.

In the last full season of World War One (1917-18) Celtic didn’t win the title, losing out to Rangers on the final day. The Bhoys started the day level on points with the Ibrox side, but could only draw as Rangers won to claim their first title since 1913. However, Celtic did win the Charity Cup. In addition, the Bhoys won a special war-related tournament too.

Throughout the war, there were numerous charity games held. This was not simply to support good causes, but also to try and deflect the criticisms of those who felt that football should not be played at home whilst people were dying abroad.

In 1918, a special War Fund Shield aimed to raise money for military charities. Eight teams from the west of Scotland took part, and it saw Celtic overcome Queen’s Park and then Clydebank to reach the final. This match was played at Hampden Park on 4 May 1918; a strong Celtic beat Morton 1-0, thanks to a Patsy Gallacher goal.

Season 1918-19 had an unusual experience; it started under the cloud of war but finished in peacetime. World War One ended on 11 November 1918. Then in May 1919, Celtic went to Somerset Park on the last day of the season and emerged as Champions.

This was also the last season there would be no Scottish Cup, which had been cancelled owing to the war. As winners in 1914, Celtic were still the holders of this prize.

There were various other Celtic stories connected to the war. Glasgow took in a huge influx of Belgian refugees who were fleeing the conflict. As well as playing games to raise funds, homeowners across Scotland were encouraged to give space to these exiles. Celtic boss Willie Maley was amongst those that took in Belgians to his house in Glasgow’s west end.

Another story relates to women’s football. Nowadays, this is growing in popularity, and Celtic Women’s team often play at Celtic Park. Women’s football was also played during the war, and could attract big crowds, notably sides such as English team Dick, Kerr Ladies. In fact, so popular was this sport that the English FA later banned women from playing in men’s grounds.

In March 1918, a notable women’s game took place on Celtic’s pitch. England faced Scotland with the teams made up of munitions workers. Celtic Park was chosen given its proximity to Beardmore’s iron and steelworks, which was near Parkhead. The English women won 4-0 on a day which also included artillery displays and an aerial flypast too.

When the war guns fell silent in November 1918, the world could breathe a sign of relief, although this cessation of fighting lasted for little more than two decades. But although the conflict was over for now, it did not mean that the war’s effects and tragedies were forgotten.

After the war, there were various actions taken to remember the dead. Local war memorials were built in towns, schools and other locations across the country. There were also plans made for a national war memorial.

Building such a monument would be expensive, so various efforts were made to secure the necessary money. In one action, Celtic went to Tynecastle on 22 May 1920 to play a fundraising game for this. The Bhoys beat Hearts 2-0 due to goals from Adam McLean and Tommy McInally, and £760 was raised.

The Scottish National War Memorial was eventually housed at Edinburgh Castle, and was officially opened in 1927. It was built to remember World War One dead, and later World War Two as well. However, like the Poppy, it has become more contentious due to the fact it now commemorates all of Scotland’s war dead, not simply those that fell in the Great War of 1914-1918.

Celtic players observe a one minute silence for Remembrance Day Celtic v Kilmarnock, Scottish Premiership Celtic Park, 9 November 2025. Photo Mark Runnacles IMAGO /Shutterstock

In recent years, the issue of Celtic and war events has become more controversial, partly due to some fans opposing British actions outwith the two World Wars, including in Ireland and the Middle East.

However, in the aftermath of World War One, there was no such debate. Everyone’s lives had been affected by the fighting, and few families had not suffered some level of tragedy. This was true for Celtic, with many fans and some players making the ultimate sacrifice.

Despite the events of war, the Scottish game continued during the conflict. This was partly to give those at home a sense of normality, and those at the front something to distract them from the horrors of battle. Each week after Celtic’s games, Willie Maley always made sure Celtic’s results were telegraphed to the War Office so soldiers could keep up with their team at home.

Celtic were closely connected to the events of World War One. Whether this is about tragedy and memorial for those that died, or in celebrating the club’s on-field successes of the era, it is a significant period in the Bhoys’ history.

Matthew Marr

If you want to learn more about Celtic history, follow Hail Hail History on Twitter/X. You can also take part in a FREE Celtic history walking tour. Visit celticwalkingtours.wordpress.com for more information.

Click on cover to order a hardback copy

Matthew’s debut Celtic book titled ‘The Bould Bhoys – Glory to their name’ was published by Celtic Star Books last year and is available to order HERE. This brilliant book is also available on Amazon Kindle for just £3.49 and includes all photo sections that appear in the hardback edition.

Matthew Marr with his debut Celtic book, Glory to their name, which tells the story of Celtic’s first ever title win. Photo The Celtic Star

Celtic in the Thirties by Celtic Historian Matt Corr is published in two volumes by Celtic Star Books.

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