Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Leslie Gordon Scott, probably known as Gordon, was the younger son of William and Jane (Jean Gibson, Jeannie, née Fenton) Scott. William Scott came from Scotland to New Zealand in 1874 with his parents (Lewis and Ann) and perhaps eight younger siblings. Lewis and Ann settled at Waitohi, and it was at Waitohi Flat that William and Jean married in 1887. William was employed by the Railways Department and so he and Jean moved frequently. Olive and Cecil were born at Greymouth, Annie at Christchurch and then Leslie who was born on 27 October 1893 at Timaru. He was educated at Timaru South School from November 1898 until 12 December 1900 when he and two siblings were recorded as leaving Timaru South for Timaru Main School. It appears, however, that the family moved to the North Island instead. They were stationed at Napier in 1903 and at Wellington by 1905, moving in about 1910 to Auckland. There they lived firstly at Prospect Rise and then at Bracken Avenue until their deaths.

Leslie was a clerk for Auckland-based wool-brokers when he enlisted on the outbreak of war, not quite 21 years old. He had served in the Territorials for 3½ years and he was serving with B Company 3rd Auckland Regiment Infantry. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his father as next-of-kin – W. Scott, Locomotive Foreman, N.Z. Railways, Auckland. He had been medically examined at Auckland on 8 August 1914, when he was considered fit for service at home or abroad, his heart and lungs being healthy and his joints and limbs free moving. He was residing at home – “Elleray”, Prospect Rise, Mount Eden, Auckland. He took the oath on 9 August 1914 at Auckland – “I . . . . do sincerely promise and swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Our Sovereign Lord the King and that I will faithfully serve in the New Zealand Forces at home or abroad until I shall be lawfully discharged.”

Private L. G. Scott embarked with the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment of the Samoan Advance Party. Departing from Wellington on 15 August 1914 by the “Moeraki”, he reached Apia, Samoa, on 29 August. All was well at the medical examination on 20 October 1914. He was 5 feet 7 inches tall, weighed 162 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 39-41 inches. His complexion fair, his eyes grey and his hair fair. His sight, hearing and colour vision were all correct, his limbs and chest well formed, and his heart and lungs normal. His teeth were good; he had a top dental plate. And he was free of diseases and was vaccinated.

Private L. G. Scott was one of a large batch of men who had been relieved from duty at Samoa and arrived in Wellington on 14 April 1915. “They had a good trip, and there was no sickness aboard.” Those who were not joining the reinforcements “marched, headed by the 5th Regimental Band, also from Samoa, to the Drill Hall at Mount Cook.” Leslie Gordon Scott was discharged on 15 April 1915 at his own request, and his discharge certificate was posted on 15 May following. He had served for 249 days, all but six overseas. For his service in Samoa he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

On his return to New Zealand, he resided at home and was employed as a secretary before joining his brother Cecil in farming at Kaipara Flats. He married Marie Laurina Pascoe on 7 December 1921 at Auckland. Leslie and Marie had four children. In 1926, Leslie Gordon Scott put himself forward for election as a councillor in Kourawhero Riding in the County of Rodney. He reverted to clerical work in the 1940s, later becoming a woolstore manager.

Leslie died on 13 March 1971 at Auckland, aged 77 years. He was cremated at Purewa Crematorium, his ashes being interred at Waimkumete Cemetery and marked by a services plaque. All his property was bequeathed to his wife, Marie Laurina Scott, in the event she survived him for a period of seven days. She was appointed sole executrix of his Will. He made provision for his four children – John Leslie Scott, Mary Nancy Foley, Jean Laurina Swinburne and Peter William Scott. Marie who died in 1983 was also cremated at Purewa, her ashes interred with Leslie’s. His brother, Cecil William Scott, who also served in World War One, died in 1972 at Whakatane. Their mother, Jean Gibson Scott, died in August 1932 and their father, William Scott, in September 1940. Both are buried at Purewa Cemetery, as are several of William’s siblings, while Alexander, who died in 1919 as a consequence of influenza, and James are buried at Timaru.

Service Number 3/4423 appears on Medical History sheet dated 10 August 1914. (May have been his Auckland Regimental number.)

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 August 2014]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5553 0102675) [08 May 2016]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [11 August 2014]; NZ Herald, 15 April 1915, 7 May 1926, 26 & 27 August 1932, 23 September 1940, Auckland Star, 26 August 1932, 23 September 1940 [x 2] (Papers Past) [08 May 2016; 24 & 25 August 2022]; Purewa Cremation record & Waikumete Cemetery headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG cemetery records) [09 August 2014]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [24 October 2022]; NZ Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [25 August 2022]; Probate record (Archives NZ) [25 August 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

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