No.12756, Private, Robert SCOTT
Aged 24
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Robert Scott was born in Burwell on 13th September 1893 (Newmarket Q4-1893 3B:509), baptised in Burwell on 27th December 1893, son of John and Martha SCOTT (née WEBB).
1901 census...Aged 7, he was at High Street, Burwell with his father John SCOTT [49] farm labourer, born Burwell; his mother Martha [50] born Exning; brothers Arthur [18] (horseman on heath), Albert [10], and Herbert [10], all born Burwell. 1911 census...Aged 17, a ploughman/labourer, he was at High Street, Burwell with his parents and brother Herbert (ploughman/labourer). An older brother, Henry died in France in 1915 and is buried at Wimereux. see here Another older brother Herbert died as a prisoner of war in France in 1918 and is buried just along the coast from Henry, at Wimille. see here |
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He enlisted in Newmarket in the 2nd Suffolk, being subsequently posted to the 9th and then the 11th Battalions before reaching the 15th Battalion..
The 15th Suffolks arrived in France from Egypt in May 1918. On September 18th, according to Lt Col.Murphy's "History of the Suffolk Regiment", they were part of the 3rd and 4th Armies attack on a front of 17 miles from Gouzeaucourt to Holnon with the French 1st Army to their south. The 15th were in the centre, attackIng from the Australian area, rapidly sweeping through Templeux and over the Quarries, taking the Germans completely by surprise and capturing a considerable number of prisoners. Dummy tanks had been used with great success. This attack cost the 15th Suffolks 6 killed. The war diaries mention the fact that 2 Companies of the Suffolks that day were detailed to mop up at Templeux and the Quarries and took over 200 prisoners. They did good work in rushing a machine guns in Templeux which had been "causing inconvenience" to the Australian on the right. Despite him being recorded on the Medal Rolls (BWM and Victory), his index card has not been found |
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details