Walter Scott

Walter Scott, one of 3 brothers had 2 younger sisters, they were the 5 surviving children of 7, born to Henry and Elizabeth Jane Scott. Henry Scott originated from Corbridge, Northumberland, where he was born in 1858, the son of Jane Scott, primarily brought up by his grandparents. By the age of 23, employed as a clerk for the railway, he was living as a boarder in the household of widow Ann Vallans at Garden Street, Blaydon, the grandmother of local girl Elizabeth Jane Vallans born March 2nd 1894, whom he married in the district of Gateshead, County Durham in 1882. Their son Thomas William was born at Blaydon the following year before they transferred briefly to the village of Wallington in Northumberland, near Morpeth, where Walter was born, October 14th 1884. By the time his wife gave birth to daughter Jane, affectionately known as Jennie, in 1887, they had returned to Blaydon where Ernest was born in 1889. Henry Scott was now a railway agent, in 1901 he and his family were sharing a home at 78-80 Bath Street, Westoe, near South Shields, with railway porter John Atkinson and his wife Elizabeth, however, they returned to Blaydon at some point over the next 7 years where daughter Margaret was born in 1898. They settled at George Street, Blaydon and Henry was now employed as a fire brick kiln foreman at what is described as a, “sanitary clay works,” as were Thomas William (18) and Walter (17), as fire clay sink makers. Whilst his family remained at George Street, Walter was married August 5th 1907 in the district of Gateshead to Margaret Hurst, native of Stannington, Northumberland, born July 1st 1882, in 1911 they were living 2 doors away from his parents and younger siblings, at 106, George Street, with their 2-year-old son James Hurst Scott born June 26th 1908, their daughter Marian Robson Scott was born in 1912.

When war was declared in 1914, they were residing at 14, Lanercost Avenue, Blaydon. Walter enlisted at Blaydon, September 6th 1914, declaring he had served for 6 years with the 5th Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry, which had ceased to exist in 1908 with the formation of the 9th Battalion D.L.I, to which he was assigned as Private 2563, his younger brother Ernest enlisted with him as Private 2553. The 9th had been ordered to return from its annual training camp in North Wales, with the rest of the Northumbrian Division it was sent to South Shields to dig trenches, part of the coastal defences, before joining the new recruits training for overseas service at Ravensworth, Bolden and Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The battalion commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Henderson left Newcastle-upon-Tyne railway station bound for France, April 19th 1915, landing the following day, Walter, the previous day, had been promoted to the rank of Lance Corporal. Still unprepared and without any nursery training the Division was sent into the trenches of the Ypres salient in Belgium during the Second Battle of Ypres where they were subjected to heavy shelling and gas attacks on the Frezenberg and Bellewaarde ridges although the 9th was spared the heavy losses suffered by the other Territorial battalions and Walter would most certainly have learnt of the death of his brother Ernest in May 1915. The battalion as part of the 150th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division remained in Belgium until August 1916 before moving to the battlefields of the Somme. During the actions in Belgium Walter had risen rapidly through the ranks, appointed Lance Sergeant by November 1915 he was posted to the 1st/9th Battalion D.L.I. The battalion participated during the final stages of the actions on the Somme attacking Starfish Line north of High Wood, participating during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette September 15th-22nd at Eaucort L’Abbaye, the Battle of Morval September 25th-28th and November 5th at the Butte de Warlencourt. Although they captured their objective they were unable to hold the line and forced to fall back with the loss of 300 men killed or wounded. During these battles Walter was promoted September 10th 1916 to Sergeant. Spring 1917 they were moved to the Arras sector participating during the Battle of Arras, April 9th-May 16th 1917 and a major raid at Cherisy before returning to Belgium spending another winter in the mud filled trenches until they transferred as a Pioneer battalion in January 1918. Their job became digging and repairing trenches and dugouts, moving supplies and much more for the 62nd (West Riding) Division, however when needed they fought as infantrymen. March 21st 1918 the German Army once again launched a major offensive on the Somme and the battalion, used as infantry, returned to France, until they joined the Allied advance returning to their pioneer role clearing and repairing roads. November 11th 1918 when the Armistice came into being they were near Auberge, November 16th 1918 the 1st/9th Battalion Durham Light Infantry marched into Germany reaching Kommern, west of Bonn, on Christmas Day and spent less than a year as part of the British Army on the Rhine before returning to Gateshead.

Sergeant Walter Scott returned to England where he was transferred to Class Z, February 2nd 1919, free to return to his home at 15, Litchfield Street, Blaydon, County Durham, however, under the obligation to return to the colours should hostilities resume with Germany. Class Z was abolished after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, June 28th 1919, which officially brought WW1 to an end. Sergeant Scott was the recipient of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal also the Belgian decoration, Croix de Guerre, announce in the Gazette, July 12th 1915.

After his demobilisation he returned to his employment producing sanitary ware. He and Margaret had a further 3 children, their son, born April 20th 1920 was named Ernest in remembrance of Walter’s brother, Henry was born July 30th 1925 and Arthur in 1927. In 1939 only Ernest was still living at home with his parents at 2, Hutton Avenue, Bishop Auckland, County Durham. Walter was manager at the sanitary works, Ernest was also employed there as a modeller and draughtsman.

Walter Scott of 3, St. Andrew’s Road, Bishop Auckland died aged 78 years, March 8th 1962 leaving effects in the sum of £2615 pounds 12 shillings to his widow, Margaret Scott nee Hurst died August 28th 1971 aged 87 years, both registered in the district of Durham Western, (Bishop Auckland).

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.