Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Scott is listed as having been born at Wallsend, a suburb of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, during the 2nd quarter (Apr/May/Jun) 1895. He was married in the district of Tynemouth in 1915 to Lavinia Kilsby White. Lavinia was born September 19th 1894 at Leicester, the daughter of Joseph Robert White, originally of Jarrow, County Durham. John White had migrated to Northamptonshire where he was married at Kettering in 1891 to local girl, Lavinia Kilsby. The White family had returned to the north east between 1894 and 1898 settling at Wallsend which is how Thomas and Lavinia met.
Upon the declaration of war Thomas Scott enlisted in 1914 at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, assigned to the Territorial Force which up until August 1914 was intended for home defence whose members could not be compelled to serve outside of Great Britain, however after the declaration of war they were split into the 1st Line, liable to serve overseas and 2nd Line, home service for those unable or unwilling to serve overseas. As Private 2997 Thomas Scott he was posted to the 1/5th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers to the Tyne Defences. The record of Private Scott has not been found all that is known is he was later posted to the 1/7th Battalion N. F. as Private 6099.
The record of the 1/5h and 1/7th Battalion N.F. is identical to that of the 1/4th which departed in April 1915, however, Private Scott at the time may have been under-age for overseas service and would have departed for the Western Front as of January 1916, joining his regiment on the Ypres salient in Belgium where they remained until August 1916 when the Division was sent to the Montigny-en-Gohelle area for training.
Their training was short-lived as the 1/7th Battalion part of the 149th Brigade, 50th Northumbrian Division was sent to the Somme in France, where they participated, September 15th 1916 at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, attacking the trenches of Starfish and Prune between Martinpuich and High Wood. Although they made gains in territory the onset of bad weather made progress difficult as the men battled in places in over 2 feet of mud.
Private 6099 Thomas Scott Northumberland Fusiliers was wounded during the battle, evacuated back through the lines by the Field Ambulance he was transferred to the 16th Canadian General Hospital at Le Treport where he succumbed to wounds sustained, September 18th 1916. Due to the number of hospitals in the area and the amount of casualties the cemetery at Le Treport was soon filled. Private Scott is at rest within Mont Huon Military Cemetery, Le Treport, Siene-Maritime, France, grave I. J. 2. He was 21 years of age.
His widow when he departed was pregnant, Lavinia had given birth to their son, July 12th 1916 whom she named Thomas Joseph Kilby Scott, in honour not only of her husband but also her father and mother. Lavinia received all monies due to her late husband from the Army and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at, 24, Hunter Street, Wallsend-on-Tyne, Northumberland. She commissioned at a personal cost of 15 shillings 9 pence, an additional inscription to be added to her husband's military headstone, it reads, “Ever Remembered By His Only Son Thomas Scott Still To Memory Dear.”
Lavinia met Frederick William Earl, a sailor, born December 3rd 1893 at Islington, London, whom she lived with at 13, Noel Street, Islington, prior to their marriage at St. Peter’s Church, Islington, January 5th 1919. The couple settled in the north east where she gave birth to 3 children, Arthur, November 18th 1920, at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Frederick William Jnr, March 31st 1923 and Bertie in 1927, registered at Tynemouth, Northumberland.
By 1939 they had transferred to Moulsoe, Buckinghamshire and were living at Hill View. Frederick William Snr and Jnr were employed as general labourers, Lavinia was a housewife, the whereabouts of sons Arthur and Bertie is unknown. Lavinia’s son Thomas J. K. Scott was living in the same village at Cottagewood Row with his new bride, Elizabeth Guy, born July 7th 1918, whom he had married during the 4th quarter (Oct/Nov/Dec) 1938.
Frederick William Earl Snr died in 1961 aged 67 years, Lavinia Kilsby Earl-Scott nee White aged 82 years in 1977, Frederick William Earl Jnr, April 14th 1984, aged 61 years and Arthur Earl aged 77 years in 1997, all registered in the district of Eastbourne, East Sussex. Details as regards remainder of family, unknown.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Scott is possibly remembered at Wallsend on W7.25
