Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert Scott was born on 20 July 1887 at Banff, Banffshire, Scotland, the third of the four sons of William Scott and his wife, Jane (Jean) née Greenlaw. In 1891 and 1901 Robert was at home at Banff with his family, listed as a farmer’s son in 1901. Robert Scott, a wool-presser, care of J Laird, Rathmore St, Timaru, was listed on the South Canterbury 1st Division Reserve Roll. He underwent his medical examination on 23 March 1916 at Timaru. On 5 April 1916, the South Canterbury quota for the 15th Reinforcements left by the express for the military camps, the Infantry – including R. Scott, Pareora - proceeding to Trentham. Before departing Timaru, the men were entertained by the Ladies’ Patriotic Committee at luncheon in the Stafford Tea Rooms. Falling in at the Drill Shed at 3pm, they were addressed by the Mayor, Mr Craigie, M.P., and the Rev. Dean Tubman. The 2nd South Canterbury Regimental Band was in attendance, and the High School Cadets and the Honorary Territorials formed a cordon at the railway station.

And on 5 April 1916 Robert Scott enlisted with the New Zealand Forces at Trentham. He was 28 years 8 months old, single, and a labourer for Mr Walls, Pareora. Robert gave his address as care of the Post Office, Pareora. He was 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighed 171 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 36½-39½ inches. His complexion was fair, his eyes grey, and his hair brown. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all correct; his limbs and chest well formed; and his heart and lungs normal. He was in good bodily and mental health, with perfect movement of all joints, and without illnesses, diseases, defects and fits. He had been vaccinated. He bore scald scars on the inside of his right thigh and right leg. Robert nominated his father as next-of-kin – William Scott, Loan Head, Muiry Hill, Alvah, Banffshire, Scotland. He also named a friend – Mr J. Laird, Rathmore Street, Timaru.

Rifleman Robert Scott embarked on board the “Waitemata”, with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 6th Reinforcements, at Wellington on 20 July 1916, destined for Devonport, England. He disembarked there on 3 October 1916 and marched into Sling. From there he proceeded overseas on 20 October, joining his battalion – 1st Battalion of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade - in France on 4 November. From 9 to 26 January 1917 he was detached to the 1st Australian Casualty Clearing Station on duty. Although he was wounded on 1 October 1917, he remained at duty. In the latter half of November 1917 he had two weeks leave in the UK, and in early July 1918 two weeks leave in Paris. Then on 30 August 1918 Robert Scott, of the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, was killed in action in the Field, France, and was buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. On 7 April 1919 Base Records notified Mr J. Laird, Timaru, and Mr Wm. Scott, Alvah, Banffshire, that 15978 R. Scott was buried in Fremicourt Communal Cemetery Extension, 2¾ miles east-north-east of Bapaume. The Fremicourt Extension was taken over from the Germans by British and Dominion units in 1918, for clearing battlefields and for fresh burials. All the graves have been removed to other cemeteries.

The baldest of reports appeared in the Timaru Herald – Killed in Action – (August 30th) Scott, Robert (Scotland). Some other newspapers confirmed the report with service number or next-of-kin or rank or unit. Robert’s father (legal next-of-kin) and mother were later of 3 Gardiner's Brae, Banff, Banffshire, Scotland. The British War Medal was issued on 15 November 1921 and the Victory Medal on 22 September 1922 – for 15978 Rfm Robert Scott. They were first authorised to father, then to Mr J. R. Simpson & G. Chalmers (Ex), C/o G. Chambers, Mayfield, Canterbury. The scroll was despatched on 15 July 1921 and the memorial plaque on 20 March 1922, both to Mr W. Scott, 3 Gardiners Brae, Banffshire, Scotland, William Scott duly acknowledging receipt of same.

No. 15978 Rifleman Robert Scott, formerly of Timaru, a wool worker, recorded that he had already made his Will and it was in the possession of Mr J. R. Simpson, Lismore, Hinds, Canterbury, New Zealand. A solicitor at Ashburton was advised by the Officer-in-Charge War Expenses that, on production of Probate of the deceased’s Will, payment of the balance due by the War Expenses Department would be made to the Executors by the Postmaster at Hinds. This officer had earlier (25 September 1919) noted that J. R. Simpson of Lismore was one of the executors and wanted details of the other, in order to make the payment arrangements. The solicitor had responded with full names – James Robertson Simpson, of Lismore, farmer, and George Chalmers, of Lismore, farm hand. A credit of £5.3s.8d. was due to the estate. Probate had been granted on 28 February 1919. James Robertson Simpson testified that Regimental Number 15978 was the number given to him by Robert before he left New Zealand and that Robert had received and acknowledged letters addressed to that number. By his Will (dated 19 July 1916), Robert bequeathed all his estate to his sister, Annie Cook of Alvah, Banffshire. Annie was just two or three years older than Robert.

Were James Laird, James Robertson Simpson and George Chalmers Scottish friends of Robert Scott, of perhaps relatives? James Laird was surely known from earlier days; he was born at Alvah, Banffshire in 1863 and died at Timaru in 1927. James Robertson Simpson, too, was born at Marnoch, Banffshire, in 1866. He died in 1956 at Ashburton. And George Chalmers testified that he was born at Alvah, Banffshire. The name of Robert William Scott was a 2015 addition to the Timaru Memorial Wall. This is the only occurrence of the additional name William. William was his father and also an older brother.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 November 2013]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0102711) [27 July 2014]; CWGC [10 November 2013]; Timaru Herald, 5 April 1916, 9 October 1917, 1 March 1917, 7 April 1917, 12 September 1918, Sun, 12 September 1918, New Zealand Timaes, 12 September 1918, Marlborough Express, 12 September 1918, Evening Post, 18 October 1918 (Papers Past) [10 November 2013; 03 August 2020]; Paul McNicholl’s list of additional names for the Tiimaru Memorial Wall (August 2013); Probate record (Archives NZ/Family Search) [12 June 2014]; 1891 & 1901 Scotland census returns (ancestry.com.au) [06 August 2020]; Fremicourt Communal Cemetery Extension (Commonwealth War Graves) [07 August 2020]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS