Scott, John Joseph
Private
No. 6728, 2nd Battalion, Royal Scots
Killed in action on Thursday 15 October 1914 (aged 39)
Buried:
Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, France (Grave VIII. B. 10)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Holywood and District War Memorial
BIOGRAPHY
In the CWGC Debt of Honour website it is recorded that Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) was 40 when he died; he was a son of Joseph and Jane Scott of Bishop Auckland, Co Durham and he was the husband of Margaret Evelyn Scott of Downshire Road, Holywood, Co Down.
In his attestation papers Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) declared that he was born in Keighley, Yorkshire and he worked as a miner before he joined the Army on 26 April 1899 at Hamilton, Lanarkshire. He declared that he was 18 years and 8 months old and it was noted that he was 5 feet 4 inches tall with a fresh complexion, grey eyes and fair hair. He had a small scar on the top of his head.
Research has found that John Joseph Scott’s birth was registered in the third quarter of 1875 in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham and he was a son of Joseph and Jane Scott (nee Waistell) whose marriage was registered in the third quarter of 1867 in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham. In 1901 and 1911 census returns he declared his place of birth as Gurney Valley, Durham.
Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) was stationed briefly in Holywood in 1899-1900 and he served in Transvaal during the South African War.
John Joseph Scott’s marriage to Margaret Evelyn Keenan was registered in the first quarter of 1904 in Bishop Auckland, Co Durham, and they had at least two children, one of whom died in infancy. Their daughter, Mary Jane Scott, was born on 1 June 1909.
Before and during the Great War John Joseph Scott served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Scots and he was killed in action at Croix Barbee on 15 October 1914.
Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) was initially buried on the battlefield, later exhumed from his original grave and reburied in Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, France. There is an inscription on his CWGC headstone:
YOU FOUGHT AND DIED
IN FREEDOM’S CAUSE
A MARTYR
FOR OUR LIBERTY SO DEAR
At the time of his death his wife, Margaret Evelyn Scott, was living in 12 Pease Street, South Church, Bishop Auckland.
On 23 February 1917 she was living at 163 Canmore Street, Shankill Road, Belfast.
On 16 February 1920 Margaret Evelyn Scott made a declaration that she was then living in Downshire Road, Holywood; she and her late husband had a daughter, Mary Jane Scott, who was born on 1 June 1909 in the Pottery House, St Anthony’s; her late husband’s parents were dead; he had a brother, Daniel Scott (aged 44) who lived in Coundon, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham and he had a sister, Sarah Barker (aged 48) who lived in Hyland’s Bridge, Bishop Auckland, Co Durham.
On 1 December 1920 Margaret Evelyn Scott acknowledged receipt of her late husband’s memorial scroll; her address then was Downshire Road, Holywood.
On 13 January 1922 Margaret Evelyn Scott acknowledged receipt of her late husband’s British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In his service papers it is recorded that, on Christmas Day 1913, Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) was arrested when he was observed participating in the illegal gambling game Pitch and Toss. He was sentenced to 14 days imprisonment or else pay a fine of 10/6 (55p).
Private John Joseph Scott (No. 6728) is commemorated on Holywood and District War Memorial.