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By the autumn of 1915 over 54 million recruiting posters had been circulated, 8 million letters sent and 12,000 meetings organised.
In the first week of January 17 men left the village, to join the regulars, Kitchener's Battalions, or the Territorials.
Many families did more than their 'bit'.
"Mr and Mrs McGinty of Baker Street, Addiewell, have 5 sons in the family and 4 of them are now serving their king and country."
"Mr and Mrs George Watson, Dee Street, West Calder, had 5 sons serving in the Army up to within a few days ago. They have lost one of their sons at Hill 60, where Lance-Corporal John Watson fell a victim of the German gases."
On April 17th, a detachment of the 2/10 Battalion of the Royal Scots visited the village to recruit. They arrived late and their visit not well publicised. There was a poor response from locals. As the newspaper comments, 'in this hour of need these events need to be better organised.'
The next visit to the village for recruitment purposes was a far 'slicker' affair. It was reported in the Scotsman - but for all the wrong reasons !
The event had been well publicised and well organised by the Central Recruiting Campaign in Edinburgh for Saturday, May 22nd.
"The cars are to be assembled in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, at 1.45 and proceed to Broxburn, Uphall, Bathgate, Armadale, West Calder and Mid Calder, the journey occupying about 5 hours. The procession will be proceeded by a band in a char-a-banc 20 minutes ahead, and their purpose will be to gather the crowd at the stopping places, preparatory to the arrival of the main procession with the speakers. It is expected there will be about a dozen speakers."
Those speakers had an unexpected reception !
"A most regrettable scene took place at the recruiting meeting held in the village, when a large number of drunks mixed in the crowd and interrupted the speakers. It was not a credit to the village that the Scotsman on Monday had to direct attention to such a state of affairs in West Calder at a time like this. The policeman had to remove several of the worst offenders, and one of the speakers intimated that if interruptions were made they had power to arrest a recruiting meeting. If one or two examples were made it would have a wholesome effect."
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