SCOTT, Edward John


No.3/9001, Private, Edward John SCOTT
Aged 19


2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Killed in Action on Saturday, 22nd January 1916


Born in 1896 (1st qtr Bury St.Edmunds 4a:788) son of William and Ellen Maria SCOTT (née ELY). His mother had been married to George AMY in 1886, who died later that year (they had a son George Philip AMY) and she reverted to her ELY surname.

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at 20 St.Johns Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his father William SCOTT [39] groom, born Aldeburgh; his mother Ellen Maria [36]; half brother George Philip AMY [14] newsboy; brother William James {8]. All except his father were born in Bury St.Edmunds}

1911 census...Aged 15, an errand boy, he was at 23 St Johns Street, Bury St.Edmunds with his parents and brothers William James and Sidney Arthur [6 months]

His parents moved later to 15 St Johns Street.

His brother William James died in France in July 1916 see here


He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds.

During the 3rd week of January 1916 the miners were tunnelling in front of the Bluff and became aware that the Germans were counter-mining. On the night of the 21/22nd January 1916 there was a terrific explosion carrying away the SE front of the Bluff. No German counter attack followed and for a while no one was sure what had happened. Ammunition boxes had been hurled hundreds of yards, men in the trenches near the canal were buried several feet deep. The charge was estimated to have been in the order of six or seven tons of explosive and left a crate about 60 by 40 yards and 40 feet deep. Nearly 100 men were killed, buried alive or injured by the explosion.

CWGC figures put the deaths that day in the 2nd Suffolks as 44 and of them, 24 have no known grave.





Edward Scott is buried in Spoilbank Cemetery, Belgium 1:B:13

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


BACK