Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

William Scott, 63220, was the son of William and Wilhelmina (Williamina, née Philip) Scott, of Glasgow, Scotland. William and Wilhelmina married in 1884 and their son William was born on 15 June 1884 at Glasgow. William, senior, died when his sons were very young. Young William and his brother Alexander were at home in Glasgow with their widowed mother in 1891 and 1901, William employed as a clerk in 1901. It appears that they came to New Zealand about 1909-1910, William arriving two years before his mother. Widowed Wilhelmina and her two sons spent time in Waimate, she being there when William enlisted and when he died. Several members of Wilhelmina Philip’s family had already migrated to New Zealand in the 1870s, settling at Waimate. These included her oldest brother William with his family, and brothers James and Charles.

So here was a young man who had come across the seas to a new life, cut down so soon. William was a hotel barman, living at 376 Cumberland Street, Dunedin, when his name was drawn in the Ninth Ballot in June 1917 to fill vacancies in the 33rd Reinforcements, mobilising in two months time. He promptly enlisted, on 19 July 1917, and was medically examined. He had been medically examined for service with the New Zealand Expeditionary Force a year before in Dunedin and rejected because of hammer toes. 5 feet 2½ inches tall, weighing 120 pounds, with a chest measurement of 34-36 inches, he was of fair complexion, with hazel eyes and fair hair. His left eye was measured at 6/6, his right 6/9. His hearing and colour vision were good, his limbs and chest well formed, his heart and lungs normal. Free of all diseases and slight defects, and vaccinated (in left arm), he was in good bodily and mental health. He had an operation scar on the right side of his abdomen. He had his appendix removed 8 years earlier. He also had slight overlapping of the second toe by the great toe on both feet. He was, nevertheless, classified Fit, Class A. His nominated next-of-kin was his mother – Mrs W. Scott, care of A. Philip, Waimate, A. Philip probably her nephew Alexander. Single and Presbyterian, he stated that his mother was absolutely dependent on him.

The recruits for the 33rd Reinforcements – “cheerful men of good physique” – left Dunedin for Lyttelton by special train at 11 a.m. on 21 August 1917. The Dunedin men assembled at the Kensington Hall, were paraded, and marched to the station, headed by the Fourth Regimental Band. “The recruits were repeatedly cheered on the march, and as the weather was brilliant, the buildings liberally flagged, and the turnout of the public as large as on any previous occasion of the sort, the send-off made quite a stir.” (Evening Star, 21 August 1917). There had been a big muster of relatives and friends at the Kensington Hall, where, after the roll had been called, the ladies of the Patriotic Association distributed handkerchiefs and cigarettes to the men, and pocket Testaments were presented, the gift of the Sunday schools of Otago. It is unlikely that William Scott had any relatives there, perhaps he had a friend or two. “Men of the 33rd – Double 3 is a lucky number. In that way you are starting under a good augury, and I hope it will come true,” said Colonel E. R. Smith. The Mayor, in his address at the station, said, “. . . our hearts, our hopes, our prayers, our faith goes with them. . . . These men to whom we are bidding God-speed go that we may live in honour, . . . , that justice, truth, and humanity shall not be crushed . . . God keep you all, and may you all soon come back to the land that is proud of you, . . ..” Marching through the station gates, the men entrained immediately, and the train moved off sharp to time. At least one of the departing soldiers – W. Scott of the Infantry – would not come back.

Private William Scott actually embarked with the 32nd Reinforcements, leaving Wellington for Liverpool, England, on 21 November 1917 per the “Maunganui”. As of 13 December 1917 he was entitled to extra pay, having been employed in shifting coal from 10 December. He disembarked at Liverpool on 7 January 1918 and marched into Sling the next day. Proceeding overseas on 20 March, he joined the 2nd Battalion, Auckland Infantry Regiment. Having been detached to the School of Instruction on 30 June, he rejoined his battalion twelve days later.

Suffering a gunshot wound to the abdomen on 30 August in the Field in France, Private William Scott was admitted to the No 1 New Zealand Field Ambulance and transferred from there to the No 3 Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his wounds on 3 September 1918. He was 34 years old. He was buried at the Bagneux British Cemetery at Gezaincourt, Somme, France. Initially newspaper reports listed him as wounded, but within days they read “died of wounds”. Was he the W. Scott who appeared in the Waimate Daily Advertiser’s Roll of Honour as “Answered the Call” on a few occasions in October 1918?

By his Will, signed on 6 April 1918, William left all his property real and personal to his mother, Mrs Williamina Scott, care of Mrs James Chute, Allan Street, Waimate, and appointed her executor of his Will. On 11 February 1919, Williamina Scott, care of Mrs C. Swainson, Wilkin Street, Waimate, declared that she was the executrix named and that she did not intend to apply for probate. His medals – British War Medal and Victory Medal – were sent to his mother, care of Mrs C. Swainson, Wilkin Street, Waimate, as were the scroll and memorial plaque, Williamina Scott, care of Mrs J. Walker, Gorge Road, Waimate, acknowledging receipt of same.

Sons of two of William’s cousins enlisted for service with the New Zealand forces in World War I – Richard Lyall Craik Philip, the son of Alexander Craik, and William Charles Philip, the son of Charles, both being grandsons of Wilhelmina’s brother, William Philip of Waimate. Others were called up. Two cousins, Thomas Lennie Philip and Andrew Lennie Philip, were listed on the Reserve Rolls, both being married with children. Mrs Wilhelmina Scott died in December 1929 and was buried in Sydenham Cemetery. Her son Alexander was buried with her in 1956. Administration of Wilhelmina Scott’s estate included £6.5s.10d. Soldier’s Pension.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [08 August 2013]; CWGC [11 August 2013]; Evening Star, 4 July 1917, 21 August 1917, Otago Daily Times, 4 July 1917, 22 August 1917, Timaru Herald, 12 & 23 September 1918, Sun, 12 September 1918, Waimate Daily Advertiser, 17 & 23 September 1918, 17, 21, 22 & 26 October 1918 (Papers Past) [10 November; 11 May 2016; 11 & 12 April 2020]; 1891 & 1901 Scottish census returns (ancestry.com.au) [12 June 2014; 12 January 2017]; NZ Electoral Rolls [Williamina] (ancestry.com.au); Probate record [Wilhelmina] (Archives NZ/Family Search) [15 February 2017]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

• TH 18 June 2016 - Great War Stories - William SCOTT (pdf, 18.3 MB updated 08-Jul-2016)
• SCOTT William - newspaper clipping 1914 (pdf, 19.2 KB updated 29-Jul-2016)

No documents available.

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

TS