'Missing' Hearts war hero honoured 95 years on from iconic photograph

At the outbreak of the war, the then league leaders made sporting history as the first team in Britain to join up for military service en masse.

A photograph of the team was taken for the club's archives, but the 20-year-old winger, known as Jimmy, was missing from the line-up as the agriculture and science student was attending a lecture at Edinburgh University at the time.

Yesterday, 95 years after Jimmy signed up, his nephew was at Tynecastle to have his photo taken as a symbolic gesture in a bid to redress the fact that his uncle missed out.

Lord Colin Low, 66, who is blind and was in Scotland as part of his work as chairman of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: "It is the missing piece of the jigsaw.

"For almost a century, many Hearts fans have felt that James Low denied himself his rightful place in one of the most iconic images in the entire history of the club.

"Like every one of his team-mates, he volunteered to fight for his country in November that year. He later fought and survived the Battle of the Somme, when 20,000 British soldiers died in one day.

"That's why I am very proud, personally, to stand in for my uncle today. And I think for many fans, too, the story behind that famous photograph will finally be complete."

The historic team photograph from 1914 has become a famous image, complete with period long-sleeved shirts and sturdy boots, and the move to make up for the fact that Low missed out has been welcomed.

Hearts managing director Campbell Ogilvie said: "This means so much to the club. It is okay taking the club forward, but tradition is something we must retain."

The second of 11 children, Jimmy Low was born in Kilbirnie and followed in his father's footsteps by joining the local football team. He went on to play for Elgin City before signing for Hearts in 1913.

But when war broke out in 1914, he joined his team-mates – and 600 fans – to form McCrae's Battalion, part of the 16th Royal Scots. During his time in the regiment, and subsequently the 6th Seaforth Highlanders, he served throughout France and Belgium and was wounded three times.

After the First World War, Low went on to play for Rangers and Newcastle United.

He became something of a Newcastle legend, playing for them from 1921 to 1928 and becoming an FA Cup winner in 1924. He died in 1960.

Lord George Foulkes, former Hearts chairman and Evening News columnist, said: "It is such a fantastic and romantic story of heroism, bravery and loyalty. It is wonderful that the missing link has been filled in."

Taken from the Scotsman