Scottish monument at Frezenberg

This monument commemorates the Scots who fought at the front.

At the beginning of May 1915, Frezenberg was the scene of heavy fighting during the Second Battle of Ieper. The German commanders thought that there was a chance to break through the weakened British line on Frenzenberg ridge, allowing them to capture Ieper. The British had already pulled back from Broodseinde (near Zonnebeke), which brought the front 4 kilometres nearer to the city. After fierce fighting the city remained in British hands, but by 1917 Frezenberg was once again back in the firing line. Now it was Scottish troops who fought here, taking part in the slow and costly advance on Passendale during the Third Battle of Ieper.

About 560,000 Scots volunteered for service during the First World War. 148,000 never went home. The Scottish troops were highly noticeable at the front because of the kilts they wore. Kilts were still being worn by Scottish units until the start of the Second World War, but their use was discontinued after the retreat to Dunkirk in 1940 as being 'inappropriate to the needs of modern warfare'.

Their appearance led to the Scots being known as 'the Ladies from Hell'. During the First World War, this name was originally believed to be an act of German propaganda, but more recent research has shown that the name was probably coined by English troops. The Allied propaganda machine then took up the idea to use against the Germans. The term first appeared in the pages of the 'New York Times'.

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