SCOTS IN DANZIG

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 50, 16 August 1939, Page 3

SCOTS IN DANZIG

LINK WITH TROUBLED CITY Tbc so widely accepted suggestion that Danzig is an almost wholly German city, although it has received some measmie of confirmation from no less a person than Colonel Beck does less than justicc to the Scot tish element, writes a correspondent to the Sunday Times. We have it on more than one sound authority that in the 17th century the population of Danzig was largely { if n*;fc preponderantly, of Scottish origin, and the Scottish proportion was then tending to increase. In a ''Par. ticular Description of Danzig by an English Merchant lately resident there," published in London in 1734, it is stated that "a better half of the families arc of '"Scotch extraction.'' Elsewhere the proportion is given as above one-third. 1 At that time the number of Scotsmen in Prussia was surprisingly great. In the middle of the century it probably exceeded 50,000 and included the leader of Frederick the Great's armies, the gallant Field. Marshal and his brother, the Earl Marisehal, who was Fredericks closest friend and confidant. The Great Town Gate of Danzig is called the Douglas Gate, with the Douglas arms upon it. A Douglas served Danzig well against the Poles at the turn of the loth century, but perhaps the most outstanding service rendered by Scots to Danz'g occur, red on the accession of Stephen IV. to the Polish throne. Although nominally under Polish Danzig persisted (the analogy is interesting) in claiming allegiance to the German Emperor. Stephen la T d siege and it might have gone ill with Danzig but for 700 Scotsmen who hurried to the defence They were commanded by Colonel William Stuart, <£ a handsome and imposing warrior of Iloyai blood,' says a German chronicler and among their captains' were John Crawford. John Tomson, Alexander Mm ray. William Rentoun, and one Gourlav. There is record also of a SergeantMajor Anstrulher. of a Reverend Pat rick Greig, chaplain, and others. Their defence was so effective that the Polish king raised the siege j paid an indemnity of 200 000 gulden and made an apology.