More about James Scott

James died 09.03.1918 of wounds received the previous day. He is remembered on St. Stephens Church, Broughty Ferry, Roll of Honour. He was Consular Chaplain at Alexandria 1909-1911.

James Scott M.C.   Lieutenant   Royal Field Artillery

BROUGHTY MINISTER DIES OF WOUNDS.

Captain John Scott, R.F.A., has succumbed to wounds received in action in Palestine last Sunday.  The sad intelligence has occasioned much regret in Broughty Ferry, where Captain Scott, prior to joining the army shortly after the outbreak of war, was assistant to the Rev. James Wilson, of the Parish Church.  His deceased mother resided at The Craig, West Ferry, and his father was the late Dr Scott, Craig, near Montrose, and was the first minister of St Stephen’s Church, Broughty Ferry.

The Rev, Dr Leask, St Stephen’s Church, and the Rev. W. J. Sym, Parish Church, Broughty Ferry, made sympathetic reference to the gallant captain’s death at the forenoon services on Sunday.  Captain Scott, who won the Military Cross recently, held a ministerial appointment in Alexandria for two years, and had travelled in Palestine in peaceful days.  He also discharged the duties of an assistant minister in Aberdeen.  His youngest sister is at present engaged with the W.A.A.C. in France, while another sister is resident in Blairgowrie.

Captain Scott is the second assistant minister of Broughty Ferry Parish Church who has made the supreme sacrifice.  Lieutenant Grant, Gordon Highlanders, was the other, and he too, was a holder of the Military Cross.

Broughty Ferry Guide 22nd March 1918

THE LATE LIEUTENANT JAMES SCOTT. M.C.

The following extract from the “London Gazette,” and letter from Captain Norman Macdonnell.

Military Cross.— Lieutenant James Scott, R.F.A. (T.F.), for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  When an officer was wounded in the front line observation post, he immediately went forward through a very heavy barrage to take his place and direct the fire of the battery.  His gallantry cannot be too highly praised, and his services were invaluable. –“London Gazette,” April 22, 1918.

Extract from the letter :^__  Well, Lieutenant Scott fell on a hill called Tel Asur.  We were to attack it, and he went forward as F.O.O. along with a couple of other officers and signallers.  Near the top, while they were all intent on watching one section of the hill, a few Turks surprised them from the left.  They all ran down a few yards and took cover under a ledge of rock.  But almost immediately Lieutenant Scott took his rifle and went up again with a few of our infantry.  He shot one Turk, but was himself shot twice very seriously through the body.  The fellows got him back, and laid him under a tree until a stretcher was brought.  A padre came and saw him.  Then he was sent on to the field ambulance.  But there was really no hope.  He got as far as Ramallah, but died there about thirty hours after he was wounded.  He was wounded about 10 a.m. on March 9, and died about 3 p.m. on March 10.

You know that you and other members of the family have all the sympathy of myself and all the battery.  In losing Lieutenant Scott I think the brigade lost its best officer; certainly, the men think so.

Montrose Review 16th August 1918 (for the full report)