Boosting Scottish Nationalism in the 1930s Decade
Strengthening a Scottish Identity: The Claymore Boys' Magazine, 1933-1934
In the heart of the 1930s, two Glaswegian visionaries, Alastair Dunnett and Seumas Adam, embarked on a mission to foster a sense of Scottish identity among young boys. They started a magazine called Claymore, which ran from December 1933 to July 1934, offering a distinctly Scottish alternative to the English-centric boys' magazines popular at the time.
The magazine, aimed at young Scottish boys, focused on adventure and the outdoors, with a proudly Scottish perspective. It carried stories, educational features, news items, jokes, and primarily depicted kilted youths speaking in a Scots dialect. The Claymore was more than just a publication; it was an early 20th-century cultural vehicle that celebrated Scottish traditions, outdoorsmanship, and adventure narratives in a way that mainstream British media did not.
Dunnett and Adam's spirit of Scottish pride was rooted in their experiences with the Scottish Scout movement. They promoted wearing traditional Scottish attire like clan tartans and Balmoral bonnets, a practice that was initially banned by the Scouts’ founder Baden-Powell. This spirit carried into their magazine project, as the Claymore aimed to encourage young Scots to embrace their heritage actively.
The magazine's launch coincided with a period of growing Scottish cultural nationalism, coinciding with broader social changes like the introduction of paid holidays, which allowed working-class Scots to explore and take pride in Scotland’s natural beauty and heritage. Organizations such as the National Trust for Scotland and the Scottish Youth Hostels Association (both founded in 1931) complemented the Claymore’s cultural mission by fostering a connection to Scottish landscapes and history.
The role of individuals like Dunnett and Adam, and magazines like the Claymore, in the strengthening of Scottish identity in the interwar years has not always been adequately acknowledged. However, their impact is evident in the 2022 Census, where 65.5% of the Scottish population chose 'Scottish' as their sole national identity.
Patrick Geddes, an early sociologist and urban planner, referred to a 'Scottish Renaissance' following the First World War, and it is clear that the Claymore Boys' Magazine played a significant part in this renaissance. After leaving the Claymore, both men entered full-time journalism, with Dunnett becoming editor of The Scotsman. In his role, he argued strongly for Scottish devolution.
The Claymore magazine folded after 31 issues in July 1934 due to insufficient income from sales. However, its impact was far-reaching, and its legacy continues to be felt today. The author of this article, Dr Duncan Sim, an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at the University of the West of Scotland, with a focus on issues of Scottish identity, has written extensively about the Claymore in his article 'Strengthening a Scottish Identity: The Claymore Boys' Magazine, 1933-34', published in Scottish Affairs.
The image used in this article is provided by the National Library of Scotland under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 International Licence.
[1] Sim, Duncan. (2017). Strengthening a Scottish Identity: The Claymore Boys' Magazine, 1933-34. Scottish Affairs, 26(4), 257-270.
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