Douglas Pinkerton’s Ladies from Hell (New York: The Century Co., 1918) is a visceral and deeply personal account of World War I, written by a soldier who served in the London Scottish Regiment. This unit, like many Scottish regiments, was dubbed ‘Ladies from Hell’ by their German adversaries due to their distinctive kilts and formidable fighting spirit.
I read this book as part of my research into the morale and motivation of the men who served in the twelve infantry battalions that formed the 56th (London) Division in February 1916. The London Scottish was one of these units.
More than just a memoir, Ladies from Hell also functions as a propaganda piece aimed at galvanizing American support for the Allied cause. Pinkerton offers a raw, unfiltered look at the horrors of trench warfare, the camaraderie of soldiers and the brutal realities of combat, all while reinforcing the wartime anti-German sentiment.
Formed in 1859 as a volunteer rifle corps, the London Scottish Regiment was unique in its adoption of the ‘Hodden Grey’ kilt. Pinkerton joined the regiment in late 1914, serving through 1915 until he was wounded. He then departed for the USA in January 1916.
His writing is direct and visceral, reflecting the urgency of his mission to inform and persuade. The book is structured as a series of anecdotes and observations, each designed to evoke a strong emotional response. He spares no detail in painting the Germans as ruthless and inhumane, recounting stories of mutilated bodies, devastated villages and the psychological toll of war on soldiers and civilians alike.
Pinkerton’s personal experiences take centre stage, particularly his grief over fallen comrades and his thirst for revenge. His decision to join the sniper corps after the death of his friend Nichols adds an element of personal vendetta to the narrative, culminating in a moment of grim satisfaction when he avenges his friend by killing a German sniper.
As a propaganda piece, Ladies from Hell is unapologetically biased. Pinkerton portrays German soldiers as cowardly and barbaric, aligning with the broader Allied narrative of the time. He recounts stories of German atrocities—such as the massacre of retreating Black Watch soldiers, the mistreatment of civilians in Lille and the brutalisation of prisoners—with a mix of outrage and moral condemnation.
However, the book’s heavy reliance on propaganda can be a double-edged sword. While it effectively conveys the intensity of wartime emotions, it also oversimplifies the complexities of the conflict. The demonisation of the German enemy, though understandable in its historical context, may feel one-dimensional to modern readers. There is also a contradiction in Pinkerton’s narrative: he condemns the Germans for their cruelty while at times exhibiting similar attitudes towards Germans he meets.
The episodic structure of the book, while engaging, can feel disjointed. Pinkerton jumps between anecdotes without always providing a clear sense of progression, making the narrative somewhat fragmented.
Additionally, there are factual inconsistencies. For instance, he claims that his Lee-Enfield sniper rifle was equipped with a silencer that made ‘firing practically inaudible’. However, no historical evidence suggests such a device existed at the time.
By modern standards, Pinkerton’s views are deeply racist. His depiction of the Gurkhas, or ‘Goorkas’ as he calls them, reflects Edwardian-era prejudices. He admires their fighting spirit but describes them in condescending terms, portraying them as primitive warriors unsuited to modern combat.
One particularly striking anecdote involves a Gurkha soldier who collects the ears of dead German soldiers as trophies. Pinkerton recounts this with a mix of horror and fascination, reinforcing his perception of the Gurkhas as fierce but uncivilised fighters. He also notes their nervousness in trench warfare, suggesting that their inclination for open, man-to-man combat made them ill-suited to the static nature of the Western Front—hence their eventual transfer to the Egyptian front.
Overall, Ladies from Hell is an interesting but flawed book. It offers a gripping first-hand account of war, exploring themes of revenge, killing and the emotional toll of combat. However, it is ultimately a personal narrative framed as a moral story designed to persuade American readers to support the Allied cause.