Scott, Robert James
Rifleman
No. 6101, 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Tuesday 27 October 1914 (aged 34)
Buried:
Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France (Grave X. G. 1)
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Megain Memorial Presbyterian Church
Harland and Wolff (Queen’s Island) War Memorial
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Robert James Scott was born in Holywood, Co Down.
Robert James Scott was born on 27 February 1880 at Hill Street, Holywood and he was a son of Robert and Elizabeth (sometimes Eliza, sometimes Lizzie) Scott (nee Jury, sometimes Duley, sometimes Ouley) who were married on 10 May 1870 in Ballymacarrett Church of Ireland Church, Belfast. Robert Scott, a labourer from Ballymacarrett was a son of James Scott, a labourer (deceased); Eliza Duley from Belfast was a daughter of Samuel Duley, a labourer. They had at least two children:
Thomas Alexander (born 1 July 1872 at Ballyvarnet, Bangor; died 8 May 1917 and buried in Grave E3 621 Dundonald Cemetery alongside his father)
Robert James (born 27 February 1880 at Hill Street, Holywood)
Their father, Robert Scott, died of pneumonia at 92 Newcastle Street, Belfast on 5 December 1910 (aged 62). Alex Scott, his son, was with him when he died; he was buried in Grave E3 621 Dundonald Cemetery.
Their maternal grandfather, Samuel Duley, died of debility at Ballykillaire, Bangor on 26 June 1882 (aged 73). His wife Ellen was with him when he died.
Their maternal grandmother, Ellen Duley, died of general debility at 54 Beresford Street, Belfast on 29 February 1896 (aged 86). Her daughter in law, Sarah Duley, was with her when she died.
Robert James Scott worked in Belfast as a labourer in an iron works and he and Alexandrina Chisholm (sometimes Chesholm) were married on 12 March 1908 in Megain Memorial Presbyterian Church, Ballymacarrett, Belfast. Robert James Scott of 85 Tamar Street, Belfast was a son of Robert Scott, a labourer. Alexandrina Chisholm of 97 Newcastle Street, Belfast was a daughter of John Chisholm, a boilermaker.
Robert James and Alexandrina Scott lived in Tamar Street, Avon Street and Island Street, Belfast and they had three children:
Alexandrina Chisholm (Eva, born 17 February 1909 at 63 Tamar Street, Belfast; died 17 November 1928; buried in Grave F5 35 Dundonald Cemetery with her maternal grandparents, John and Alexandrina Chisholm)
Robert John (born 5 August 1911 at 8 Avon Street, Belfast)
James (born 24 May 1913 at 71 Island Street, Belfast; died 30 January 1937; buried in Grave F2 226 Dundonald Cemetery, where his mother Alexandrina was later buried after she died on 5 December 1976)
Robert James Scott enlisted in Belfast and served with the 2nd Battalion Royal Irish Rifles.
Initially reported as missing in action, and later presumed dead, Rifleman Robert James Scott was 34 when he was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle on 27 October 1914 and he was buried in Pont-du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue, Nord, France. At that time his wife was living at 71 Island Street, Belfast.
Rifleman Robert James Scott (No. 6101) is commemorated in Megain Memorial Presbyterian Church; on the Harland and Wolff (Queen’s Island) War Memorial and in the Belfast Book of Honour (Page 576).