Pte 15441 Newton Vincent Scott

• Age: 19
• From: London
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Thiepval Memorial
  Panel Ref: P&F1D8B &8 C.

Newton Vincent (Vin) Scott was born in Kilburn, London on 29th September 1896 the son of George Hill Scott and his wife Edith Ann (née Turvey). He was baptised on 06th December 1896 in St Paul’s Chapel, Kilburn Square, London. His parents married in 1895 and had three children. Vin had younger sisters Olga Turvey, born in 1898 in London, and Edith Louie, born in 1905 in Blackpool, and baptised in Wallasey in 1909.

The 1901 Census shows the family are living at 41 Pilkington Road, Southport. His father is shown as a traveller in art pottery born in London in 1869, his mother is shown as born in Southport in 1870. Both Vin, aged 4 and his sister Olga, aged 3, were born in London.  

He was educated at Wallasey Grammar School and he attended Wallasey Parish Church.  

The 1911 Census shows Newton Vincent Scott as head of the household living at 4 Harvey Road, Liscard. He is aged 14 and is living with his sister Olga Turvey Scott. There are also two visitors staying at the property. His mother, 41, and sister Edith, 5, are visiting Henry and Ellen Hadley at 11 Church Road, West Kirby. His father, 42, a commercial traveller, pottery, is listed as a visitor at the Empress Hotel in Bournemouth.

Prior to enlistment Vin worked for the Booth Steamship Company.

The Liverpool Echo dated 31st July 1914 sees him selected to play cricket for Booth-Holt CC against Dingle CC at Aigburth. 

He enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15441.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th 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. 

He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30^th July 1916, aged 19, at the village of Guillemont, France, during the Somme Offensive. 

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th 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 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th 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.

His body was not recovered from the battlefield or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

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.”

A detailed report of his death was printed in the local press:

Killed On No Man’s Land

Private N. Vincent Scott, of the Liverpool Pals, the only son of Mr. and Mrs. G.H. Scott, 4, Harvey Road, Liscard, was killed in a rain of bullets from machine guns in No Man’s Land whilst carrying a message. He was only 19 years of age, and educated at the Wallasey Grammar School. He attended Wallasey Parish Church and was employed at the Booth Steamship Company offices. His platoon commander wrote to the parents as follows :-

“I am writing to you about your son, Private N. Scott, who I believe was killed in the attack on July 30th. I had been his platoon commander for many months out here, and, both in trenches and out, I should like to record my opinion of him – that he was one of the best soldiers we had, always ready for work, calm and patient, particularly so in this last advance where our men were heavily tried. His cheerfulness had always attracted my attention and been a source of pleasure to his comrades. We all offer our sympathy for the loss which we share with you.”

Mrs Scott has received the following letter from Mr. J.R. Webb, general manager of the Booth Steamship Company:-

“The sad news of your son’s death in action was much felt by all here who had been associated with him in peaceful work, and we can well understand the justice and truth of the praise from Lieut. Dod. The same qualities which won his commander’s praise was manifest in all he undertook in our service. We feel the deepest sympathy with you in the great loss you have suffered, but we trust you will be sustained in your grief by the consciousness of his courage and devotion to the country in the hour of that country’s greatest trial. You have indeed reason to be proud of your son.”

In the Liverpool Echo, on 30th July 1917 under the heading ‘Lost At The Battle of Guillemont’ his family paid tribute to Vin:

“In sweet and cherished memory of Vin, (17th “Pals”), the dearly-loved and only son of Mr. and Mrs. G. H. Scott (late Harvey Road, Liscard), who was killed and missing, July 30, 1916 (Guillemont) while taking a message across No Man’s Land. “Always faithful, calm, and patient.” – Rev. xiv.”

Liverpool Echo - Thursday 17 August 1916 

SCOTT—JuIy 30. killed in a rain of bullets while carrying a message across " No Man's Land " (previously missing), aged 19, Private N. V. Scott (dear '  

“ Vin "), of the "Pals." (A glorious death which led the tired hero to a far more glorious life   Waiting—till we meet again.)— His proud, but heartbroken Mother.  

SCOTT—JuIy 30. killed by machine bullets. Private N. V. Scott  (“ Vin "), dearly-loved brother of Olga Scott.  

He always made home happy.  

What noble record this!  

A legacy of memory sweet  

To those he loved and left.  

—Sadly missed by his sorrowing Sister. 

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

"In memory of my friend Vin, who lost his life at Guillemont, 1916. - Bobbie."

He is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Booth Line Roll Of Honour Book 

Wallasey Grammar School 

Victoria Central Community Hospital, Wallasey 

Vin earned his three medals. In 1920 his mother, by then living at 7 Park Way, Princes Avenue, Liverpool, applied for Vin’s 1914-1915 Star.   

No pension card has been found. His Army pay and a War Gratuity of £8-10s went to his father.

His father died in 1921 in a nursing home in Harrogate, Yorkshire, his address given as the George Hotel. He left £1,434-10s-4d to his widow Edith.

His mother and sisters emigrated to Canada and settled in Vancouver, where his mother died in 1940, aged 70.

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