Celtic F . C . and World War I Many Celtic Football Club players fought in World War I . Seven former Celtic players died . Background . In the early 20th Century Celtic F . C . was already a successful club having won 10 Scottish League Championships and 8 Scottish Cups in their 26 year history ( by 1914 ) . Celtic also won trophies during the war ( four Scottish League Championship and one Scottish Cup ) , however of the 908 , 371 British and Commonwealth soldiers who died in the fighting , seven were former Celtic players . They were Patrick Slavin , Leigh Richmond Roose , Donnie McLeod , Archie McMillan , Robert Craig , John McLaughlin and Peter Johnstone . Roose and Slavin died in the Battle of the Somme ( 1916 ) , four others died in 1917 and Craig died in 1918 . The men who died . Leigh Roose . Roose was a Welsh goalkeeper who was on loan at Celtic in 1910 . He had 24 caps for Wales and a Doctorate in Bacteriology before he joined the 9th Royal Fusiliers in 1914 . He rose to the rank of Lance Corporal and was awarded the Military Medal before his death on 7 October 1916 between the hours of 1 . 45pm and 9 . 00pm in the Battle for Montauban . His regiment was sent to attack the enemy line and it is believed that he died as a result of heavy machine gun fire and shelling when his regiment came under attack ( he is recorded as missing on the Thiepval Memorial ) . On that day it is recorded 25 died , 165 missing and 132 wounded . Patrick Slavin . Slavin was the 2nd player to die while playing under Celtic . He rose to the rank of Sergeant and was with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and died November 13 , 1916 in the 2nd Battle for the village of Serre . The day he died it was reported that there was thick fog by 5am and that the enemy ' s barbed wire was not cut , he is reported to been shot dead after " going over the top " , that day 23 died , 84 missing and 177 wounded . John McLaughlin . McLaughlin ' s records are scant which is an indication that he may never have made a first team appearance for Celtic . However , it is known that he played for Mossend Hibs and Renton . He held the rank of private and was in the 11th Battalion of the Highland Light Infantry . He was injured on 23 April 1917 when his battalion came under fire at the Battle of Calvary Farm at Monchy Le Preux which is north of Arras . He did not survive his wounds and died on 10 May 1917 . Peter Johnstone . Johnstone was a pre - war Celtic legend who had played for Celtic 223 times and was one of the players who won the league 6 times in a row under Willie Maley . Peter joined the 6th Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders . He died on the 16 / 05 / 1917 , when his regiment were told to capture a chemical factory as part of the Battle of Arras . In the 2 day battle it was reported 43 died , 26 missing and 51 wounded , although he among the missing , rumours of his death were spread around Glasgow which were confirmed on 06 / 06 / 1917 . His name is engraved on the Arras Memorial . Archie McMillan . McMillan was an outside left who made his debut against Rangers in 1913 . He held the rank of Private and was in the 1st / 7th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders . From 21 to 23 November 1917 , his regiment was involved in heavy fighting in the Battle of Cambrai . Their orders were to capture the village of Fontaine - Notre - Dame , Aisne and although they were successful he was shot dead and was among the 9 dead , 22 missing and 128 wounded . He is buried in a British war cemetery in Manancourt . Donald McLeod . McLeod was a full back who played 155 times for Celtic from 1902 - 08 . He was a gunner in the 466th Battery of the 65th Royal Field Artillery . It is known that he died of his injuries on 6 October 1917 the cause of them is unknown . However it is most certain that he died in Belgium and was involved ( or died ) in the Battle of Passchendaele . Donald McLeod is buried in Dozingham Military Cemetery , Westvleteren , Belgium , Plot 5 , Row G , Grave 7 . Robert Craig . Craig was the final former Celtic player to die in the war . His career lasted 3 years at Celtic from 1906 - 1909 , he was a full - back and played 13 times for the club , he was a private in the 5th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers and died on 19 / 04 / 1918 . He died of his wounds from 11 / 04 / 1918 when the enemy re - captured the town of Mesen in Belgium . He is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery . Robert Craig is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery , Plot 9 , Row A , Grave 3 . William Angus VC . William Angus played for Celtic and was awarded the Victoria Cross in 1915 . He was awarded this medal for his bravery and valour in saving Lt James Martin who was lying a few feet from the German line . However , he lost an eye , damaged a foot and was wounded 40 times in the process . When he came home to Scotland he was given a hero ' s welcome and was always a guest of honour in major football matches . He also became the president of Carluke Rovers F . C . and held that position until his death . Charity . Despite not being actively involved in the conflict , the people at home made valuable contributions to the war effort . In 1918 Celtic won the Navy and Army War Fund Shield , a friendly tournament that Celtic and a few other teams agreed to take part as a fundraising event to give money to footballers and their families who fought in the war .