David Wright Scott               Aged 23

Regimental No. 81932           Gunner           290 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

                                                                         XCIII Brigade, 20 (Light) Division

Killed in Action                                             31 October 1917

Buried                                                             Ruisseau Farm Cemetery, nr Langemarck

 

Personal Background

David was the son of James Scott and Joan, nee Wright,  of 10 High Street, Jedburgh and had a brother, Thomas. Their father was a Master Baker and tenant of a business premises at 10 High Street, Jedburgh.  Before the outbreak of WW1, David was working as a baker in St. Boswells and resided at Laburnam Cottage, just above the Church, with his brother, Thomas.  This suggests that the two young men were running another family bakery business within St. Boswells.

 

Research on Walter Melrose, also commemorated on the memorial, uncovered the fact that in 1918 David's brother, Thomas, by then at Greenfield House, and Walter's sister Margaret were married.  From their marriage certificate, it appears that Margaret had been working in the bakery, perhaps even before David went to war.   They suffered the loss of their brothers within the same month.  

 

The relationship between David and Thomas was clearly strong, because David's will, written just 6 months before his death, left all his belongings to Thomas.

 

Military Background

David enlisted on 8 December 1915 and arrived at 3 Depot Royal Garrison Artillery on 18 May 1916.  He reached the Artillery Siege Depot and finally the 190 Siege Battery on 20 December 1916.  On 3 April 1917 the Battery embarked at Southampton for Le Havre.

 

The 93 Brigade was part of the 20 Division and moved to take part in the 3rd Battle of Ypres.  The War Diary stated that on 31 October 1917 "120 rounds fired at V 16 94 20 to V15 T1 50" and makes no mention of any losses sustained that day.  It appears David was reported missing on 31 October and his body discovered 3 days later.  The Rev. C.P. Appleton, presumably a regimental chaplain, stated that he had been "killed in action or died from  wounds on, or shortly after, 31 October 1917."