Samuel George Scott

VIII Corps Cyclist battalion Army Cyclist Corps (formerly 295 Private). Private Samuel George Scott enlisted at Nottingham, attesting on 10 June 1915. He served at home until 11 March 1916 after which he was in France from 12 March until his death in 1918. Samuel was admitted to a Field Ambulance Station on 21 February 1917 and was transferred to other medical units several times until he rejoined his unit toward the end of March. His service record includes copies of correspondence from Gertrude who wrote to the authorities on 23 March asking for directions of the hospital in which her husband was being treated as 'He is now in the third hospital since he was admitted ... and I think he is going on well but have had no news from him or anyone since March 1st although I write every other day.' There is no copy of a reply but Gertrude presumably received one as she wrote again on 29 March to i/c Cyclists Records Hounslow, 'Many thanks for your kind attention to my letter but I am glad to state that I heard this morning from my husband and he is now back with his battalion again.' Samuel was awarded leave to UK, 1-11 July 1917. Samuel was killed in action by a sniper on 24th October 1918 and buried in Mont des Bruyeres British Centery, 7½ miles North North East of Demain. He is now buried at Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery, grave reference ll.D.18. (See history of the cemetery below and 'Extra information') Samuel qualified for the British War Medal and Victory Medal. CWGC - Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery (extract): 'Valenciennes remained in German hands from the early days of the First World War until 1-2 November 1918, when it was entered and cleared by the Canadian Corps; 5,000 civilians were found in the town. In November and December 1918, the 2nd, 57th, 4th Canadian and 32nd Casualty Clearing Stations were posted at Valenciennes and the last of them did not leave until October 1919. The Communal Cemetery of St. Roch was used by the Germans in August and September 1914 and an extension was then made on the south-east side. The Commonwealth plots were made adjoining the German: I and II contain the graves of October 1918 to December 1919; III, IV, V and part of VI contain the graves of 348 soldiers buried originally in the German Extension and 226 whose bodies were brought from other cemeteries or from the battlefields. The German Extension has since been removed and the Commonwealth plots are within the enlarged Communal Cemetery. The following were among the burial grounds from which graves were moved to this cemetery ... MONT-DES-BRUYERES BRITISH CEMETERY, ST. AMAND-LES-EAUX, where 17 soldiers from the United Kingdom, who fell in October and November 1918, were buried.' (www.cwgc.org)

Samuel's brother 27591 Lance Corporal William Thomas English Scott, 17th Bn (HQ Coy), Sherwood Foresters, was killed on 23 September 1916 aged 35. Buried Mont Huon Military Cemetery. France. (See record on this Roll of Honour) CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Gone but not forgotten' Samuel was buried in Mont des Bruyeres British Cemetery but his body was later interred in Valenciennes (St Roch) Communal Cemetery. A letter from the War Office to the i/c Army Cycilst Corps in June 1920 explains the reason: Ref. 8/ACC Army Cyclist Corps 13300 Scott Pte S. Location of Graves: Place of grave: Mont des Bruyeres British Cemetery, 7½ miles North North East of Demain. 'I am to inform you that in accordance with the agreement with the French and Belgian Governments to remove all scattered graves, and small cemeteries containing less than 40 graves, and certain other cemeteries which were situated in places unsuitable for permanent retention, it has been found necessary to exhume the bodies buried in certain areas. The body of the man named on the attached location sheet has, therefore, been removed to the cemetery as stated. Please inform the next of kin that the necessity for the removal is much regretted, but was unavoidable for the reasons above given; and you may give them every assurance that the work of re-burial has been carried out carefully and reverently, special arrangements having been made for the appropriate religious services to be held.’ CWGC: 'Son of Edwin and Charlotte Scott, of Carrington, Nottingham; husband of Gertrude Mary Scott, of 21, Haydn Rd., Sherwood, Nottingham.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 24 October 1919: ‘Scott. In loving memory of my dear husband, Private SG Scott, Cycle Corps, 21 Haydn-road, Sherwood, killed while in action by a sniper, October 24th, 1918. Oh, heavenly star shine on the grave of the one we loved but could not save. Silently mourned and so sadly missed by his loving wife and children, Edna, Eric [Samuel Eric].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 23 October 1920: ‘Scott. In loving memory of Private SG Scott, killed in action October 24th, 1918. RIP. Wife, children.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 23 October 1920: ‘Scott. |In loving memory of our dear son, Samuel George Scott, killed in action October 24th, 1918. Ever in our thoughts. From loving father & mother, 44 Hucknall-rd.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) WW1 Pension Ledgers Index Cards: widow Gertrude Mary, children Edna and Samuel Eric. Samuel's personal property was returned to his widow in March 1919.