The Impact of the First World War on the Scottish Coal, Iron and Steel Industries

1. The Impact of the First World War on the Scottish Coal, Iron and Steel Industries

2. Coal, Iron and Steel • The coal-mining industry did well from the Great War, with coal required at every stage of the booming iron/steel and ship-building processes. • However, in 1913 Scotland had profited by the export of coal to Germany, Denmark and Sweden, markets which were almost cut off because of the war. • Although east-coast ports exported some coal to Italy, Russia and France, exports fell from 10.4 million tons in 1913 to 2.6 million tons by 1919. During the war-time disruption, countries developed their own industries, often producing coal more cheaply than Scots coal-mines, or found other suppliers. In addition, new forms of power, such as petrol and electricity, increasingly competed with coal in the market-place. • The Scottish coal-mining industry, therefore declined, contributing further to the gloomy overall economic picture of Scotland in the 1920s.

3. Scotland’s iron and steel production remained very largely separate before, during and after the Great War, a factor which many historians have felt contributed to the industry’s decline once the wartime boom was over. • Scotland’s own resources of iron ore were declining and the industry became dependent on imported iron ore , mainly from Spain and N. Africa, which made production more expensive and problematic in the face of labour shortages and the sinking of ships by the German navy.

5. Scotland’s steel industry was dominated by the ship-building industry and the main shipyards often controlled steel production as well. As a result of this and the fact that, for example, 30% of merchant shipping was lost during the war, the industry boomed - David Colville and Sons (Steel) increased production by 250% during 1914-18. • However, this meant that the steel industry also went into decline alongside ship-building from 1918 and for similar reasons eg foreign competition, outdated and inefficient working practices, lack of investment.

7. To sum up….. “In 1919, Scotland was a vulnerable economy with many inherent weaknesses, as evidenced by widespread poverty, outdated technology and a limited capability to succeed in international competition.” Clive H. Lee