Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Scott was born 1894 in Holmside, County Durham, one of 13 children of whom only 6 survived, born to Thomas Scott 1853 of Whickham and Elizabeth Hood 1859 native of Chester-le-Street, County Durham who were married in 1887 in the district of Lanchester. His father and the male members of the family worked at the colliery in various capacities, John at the age of 17 was a putter, below ground. In 1911 the family was living at 4, Eastwood Row, Burnhope, County Durham.
John Scott enlisted, in Stanley, in 1914 and was assigned to the 1/8th Battalion, Durham Light Infantry as Private 2026. The battalion, attached to the Northumbrian Division, moved for training to Boldon Colliery in early August from Bishop Auckland, then to Ravensworth Park and were in Newcastle-upon-Tyne by the October. The !/8th left Newcastle railway station for France, April 19th 1915 and within days without any nursery training they were deployed, attached to the 105th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division, in the northern sector of the salient near St. Julian and Gravenstaff Ridge. Forced by repeated German attacks to withdraw towards Ypres they remained on the Ypres salient awaiting the arrival of the Service Battalions early 1916.
Private 2026 John Scott Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, April 2nd 1916. His sacrifice is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing, Ypres, Belgium, panel 36 and 38 which commemorates 54,395 officers and men from Britain and the Commonwealth who died on the Ypres Salient up to August 1917 and have no known grave. John was 22 years old and single.
Nominated as his sole beneficiary his mother Elizabeth received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Scott is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 and C120.04 and at Burnhope onB153.01 B153.03 B153.05 and B153.09
