Pte 17948 Joseph Vincent Scott

• Age: 24
• From: Portland USA
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 19th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Joseph Vincent Scott was born in Portland, Oregon, U.S.A. in 1892.  His parents, Peter Brennan Scott, from Billinge, Lancashire, and Jane Hughes, from Liverpool, married in West Derby Register Office in 1879.  They had three children, Peter, James, and Mary, before they left for the United States between 1887-1892.  According to his enlistment papers, Joseph was born in Portland, Oregon in 1892, although he cannot be found in the Oregon State birth records, and unfortunately most of the U.S. Federal Census for 1890 was destroyed by fire so the family’s residence cannot be established.  There is, however, a Peter B. Scott listed in the Portland, Oregon City directory in 1890 as a longshoreman (stevedore), living at 166 N. 13^th Street.

At the end of 1892 the family returned to Liverpool from New York, arriving in Liverpool on the ‘Wyoming’ on 18^th December.  His parents with siblings Peter, John, and Mary, are listed, but Joseph’s name does not appear on the manifest, perhaps because he would have been an infant, 3-4 months old. 

In 1901 the family is living at 41 Cambridge Street, Bootle. His father is aged 45, a stevedore, on his own account, his mother Jane is 45. They have three children in the household:  John, 18, is a stevedore’s clerk. Mary is 14, Joseph is 8. 

By 1911 they have moved to 15 Brookfield Avenue, Great Crosby. His father is aged 55, listed as a stevedore in shipping/employer, his mother Jane is 55. They have been married for 31 yearsand have had 4 children. There are two children in the household, Mary is 24, Joseph is 18, a clerk in a shipping company.  All family members, including Joseph, have the middle name Brennan. 

Joseph enlisted in Liverpool on 03^rd September 1914, as Private 17948, 19^th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 22 years and 5 days (which implies that he was born in late August 1892) and his occupation as clerk.  He is described as being 5’ 8 and a half inches tall, weighing 127 lbs, 34" chest with grey eyes and brown hair. He is a British subject, born in Oregon, U.S.A. He states his religion as Roman Catholic and next of kin as his father, Peter Scott, at 15 Brookfield  Avenue, Great Crosby.  

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

Interestingly, given the dangers of submarine warfare, in July 1915 his parents sailed from Liverpool to New York on the ‘Carpathia’.  It is not known when they returned.

Joseph was transferred to the 30^th Division Cyclist Co. with effect from 19th August 1915, and re-transferred to 19^th Bn a month later, on 19th September 1915.  

He left for France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 7^th November 1915.  

In the new year, the Pals battalions take up position in the south of the Somme line, near Carnoy.  At the end of May they move to Abbeville for specialist training for the ‘Big Push’.  Joseph survives the deadly fighting of the Battle of the Somme, until the 30^th July, when the battalion takes part in the attack on the village of Guillemont.  The attack fails, and the losses, of nearly 500 Pals killed, make this the deadliest day of the war for the City of Liverpool.  

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July. 

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.   

Joseph was declared Missing that day. A month later, still not knowing his fate, his parents placed a notice in the Liverpool Echo on 31^st August 1916, appealing for information about their missing son.

But on 13^th September his death was confirmed in the Liverpool Echo: 

“Missing, Now Reported Killed.  Private Joseph Vincent Scott (24), K.L.R., reported missing from July 30, is now officially reported killed.  He resided with his parents at 15 Brookfield Avenue, Crosby, and was in business with his father and brothers, Peter Scott & Sons, coal stevedores, Liverpool.”

On the same day, in the Liverpool Echo:

 “July 30, killed in action, aged 24 years, Private Joseph Vincent Scott, K.L.R., the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter B. Scott, 15 Brookfield Avenue, Crosby.”

His date of death was assumed, as occurring on 30^th July 1916.

19^th Battalion Diary 30^th July 1916

MALTZ HORN FARM

BATTLE begun. ZERO hour 4:45 am. The Battalion reached its objective, but suffered heavy losses, and had to evacuate its position owing to no reinforcements.

Everard Wyrall gives details of the attack in his book The History of The King’s Regiment; 

"The 2nd Attack on Guillemont- 29th July 1916 the 89th Brigade the 20th King's were to attack on the right and the 19th on the left. During the evening of the 29th the night was dark and foggy when the Battalions moved off and the 19th with Lt Col G Rollo commanding, when passing the South east of the Briqueterie they were heavily shelled first with H E and then with a new kind of asphyxiating Gas shell which had curious results, at first it had no nasty effect but about 8 hrs later men began to fall sick with violent headaches and pains in the stomach. All ranks had to wear gas masks which in the darkness and mist made the going terribly difficult. It was indeed wonderful that they were able to reach their Assembly point at all. But they did and by 2.45 a.m. on the 30th July 1916 the Btn was assembled having suffered about 30 Casualties on the way up ready for the Zero hour at 4.45 a.m.

It is known that the two left Companies of the 19th under Capt. Dodd and Capt. Nicholson advanced in touch with the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on their left although they suffered many casualties from Machine gun Fire did not encounter many Germans and reached their final objective about the time allocated, beginning at once to dig in south of the orchard on the South east corner of Guillemont.  

On the left of the 19th the Scots Fusiliers most gallantly forced their way through Guillemont to the eastern side of the village but were soon overwhelmed by the enemy and few returned. 

At 8 a.m. finding that the village was not held the two left Companies of the 19th received no word from the rear or either flank believed themselves to be totally isolated so were forced to fall back and dig in, their position being untenable.

At midday the effective fighting strength of the 19th Btn was just 7 Officers and 43 other ranks" 

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30^th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55^th Division during the early hours of the 31^st July.

Casualties in the 19^th Battalion were 11 Officers and 435 Other Ranks 

The events of 30^th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89^th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone

Joseph has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme. 

The Thiepval Memorial, the Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, bears the names of more than 72,000 officers and men of the United Kingdom and South African forces who died in the Somme sector before 20 March 1918 and have no known grave. Over 90% of those commemorated died between July and November 1916. 

On 01st August 1932 the Prince of Wales and the President of France inaugurated the Thiepval Memorial in Picardy. The inscription reads: “Here are recorded the names of officers and men of the British Armies who fell on the Somme battlefields between July 1915 and March 1918 but to whom the fortune of war denied the known and honoured burial given to their comrades in death.”

His effects went to his father Peter, by then living at 53 Rossett Road, Great Crosby.  His parents received his three medals and his memorial plaque and scroll.

Joseph was remembered on the first anniversary of his death in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost At The Battle Of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of J. V. (Joe) Scott (3rd Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. - Father, Mother, Brothers, Sister.” 

“In loving memory of our dear brother, Joseph Vincent (Pals), killed in action July 30, 1916, aged 23 years. (Always remembered by May and Jim.)”

He was also remembered on the second anniversary of his death in 1918:

"Scott - In memory of Joseph Vincent, the dearly-loved youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Scott, 53, Rossett Road, Crosby, killed in action July 30, 1916."

"In memory of our dear brother, Joseph Vincent, killed in action July 30, 1916. - Never forgotten by May and Jim."

His pension went to his mother; his parents were by then living at 18 Mossfield Road, Orrell Park, Liverpool.  A request was made to Infantry Records in 1937 for his discharge documents (possibly needed to verify inheritance, as his mother may have died around that time). 

On the 1921 Census his parents were living at 12 Manor Ave, Gt Crosby, his mother is recorded as Jane H. Scott. She died aged 89 in 1945. 

His father died on the 14th March 1942 at Belmont hospital, living at 18 Mossfield Road, Walton, probate to his daughter Mary Brennan Cringle. He was 86 yesrs of age. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Echo on Monday 16 March 1942: 

SCOTT—March 14, In hospital, PETER BRENNAN SCOTT, beloved husband of Jane H. Scott, late 18 Mossfield Road, Orrell Park (Fortified by the rites of Holy Church.) R.I.P. Requiem Mass and Interment at SS. Peter and Paul’s, Crosby, on Wednesday next, at 9 a.m.  

Joseph is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall, Panel 39

Crosby & Blundellsands Civic Memorial

Saints Peter & Paul RC Church, Crosby.

We currently have no further information on Joseph Vincent Scott, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.