Officers Association Scotland

The Officers Association Scotland is a charity established shortly after the First World War to provide support for ex-officers and their families who are based in Scotland or who have links to Scotland. It continues to do so with its work divided into employment support and welfare services.

The Officers Association Scotland (OA Scotland) was founded in 1920 as a distinct branch of its sister Association in London, by Field Marshal The Earl Haig to assist officers to find work and relieve poverty. Following the Great War, tens of thousands of officers were demobilised and, while non-commissioned officers and men received payments of so called out-of-work donations, officers received no help whatsoever from the government though many of them of them were without private means.

Their Service pay had been low and war gratuities small and so, within a short time of demobilisation, many of them, being unemployed and without income, were in great difficulties. In some cases their education was incomplete; in others, good pre-war positions at home or overseas had been given up and attractive prospects sacrificed. They had been selected for commissioned service because of the personal qualities but, sad to state, in the post-war period large numbers of them were destitute. Several had taken to playing barrel organs in the streets of Edinburgh displaying placards that they were ex-officers with wives and children to support, but without income and therefore down and out.

Since then the state system of support for people who have fallen on hard times has evolved. Sadly there are still some whose level of income is so low that even with state assistance they cannot make ends meet. OA Scotland now focusses on providing employment support as one of its key functions but welfare remains a pressing call on its resources. In recognition of the service officers have selflessly given to the Country, the Directors are committed to supporting them, their widows and dependants in their time of need.