Massacre of Tranent

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The Massacre of Tranent took place 1797 in the town of Tranent, Scotland.

On 28th August, a proclamation was drawn up by local people to object to the enforced recruitment of Scots into the military, to be used either for controlling their own people or for deployment overseas. The proclamation contained the following four clauses:-

We declare that we unanimously disapprove of the late Act of Parliament for raising 6000 militiamen in Scotland.
That we will assist each other in endeavouring to repeal the said Act.
That we are peaceably disposed; and should you, in endeavouring to execute the said Act, urge us to adopt coercive measures, we must look upon you to be the aggressors, and as responsible to the nation for all the consequences that may follow.
Although we may be overpowered in effecting the said resolution, and dragged from our parents, friends, and employment, to be made soldiers of, you can infer from this what trust can be reposed in us if ever we are called upon to disperse our fellow-countrymen, or to oppose a foreign foe.

This measure may have been encouraged or incited by the 'United Scotsmen', a secret society spread throughout Scotland who were believed to be intent on insurgence and the setting up of a Scottish government under Muir of Huntershill. It is believed they had been responsible for inciting similar riots and protests elsewhere using the 1797 Militia Act as an excuse.

The following day, 29th August, the proclamation was handed to Major Wight, the commanding officer of the recruitment squad. This was ignored, but later, when a contingent from the local colliery communities, lead at front by 'Jackie' (Joan) Crookston, confronted the troops, their response was swift and bloody. Several of the protestors, including Jackie Crookston, were shot dead, out of hand.

The protestors then fled from the centre of the small town out into the countryside, only to be pursued by the Cinque Port Dragoons, who are reported to have cut down people indiscriminately, caring little whether they were involved in the protest or not. Casualty estimates range from around a dozen to twenty or more men, women and children dead, with of course wounded on top of that.

After the slaughter the troopers are alleged to have carried out rape and pillage on the small town.

A statue by sculptor David Annand, of Jackie Crookston and one of the children, was unveiled in Tranent centre in 1995.