Pte 57732 William Bernard Scothon

• Age: 24
• From: Nottingham
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Zantvoorde Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: IV.J.8

William Bernard Scothon was born in 1892 in Nottingham, the son of Hedley Vicars and Mary Emma (nee Holbrook) Scothon who were married in 1891.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Priestsic Rd, Sutton-in-Ashfield Nottingham.

His father Hedley is not present, mother Mary E. is aged 29, children William B. aged 9 b.Nottingham, Hedley V. aged 7 b.Nottingham, and Margaret aged 2 was born in Mansfield. 

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 23 Woodland St, Nottingham, Nottingham.

His father Hedley, is aged 46, born 1865 in Nottingham is a railway guard, whilst his mother, Mary Emma, is aged 39, born in Nottingham in 1872 with no occupation listed. They have been married for nineteen years and have had four children of which one has died. They have William Bernard living at home, he is aged 19, born 1892 in Nottingham and is employed as an accountant's clerk.  

He was the husband of Mabel Scothon, of 26 Westwood Rd, Sneinton, Nottingham. He married Mabel Eatch on the 5th July 1915 at St Mathias, Sneinton, William was a 23 year old soldier of 119 Pym Street, Mabel was a 21 year old lace hand of 24 Lower Eldon Street. Mabel was born 21^st January 1887 (

Her Pension Card says her dob is 7.8.93, 26 Westwood Rd) and they had two children, Frederick Fletcher, born 19^th June 1907 (illegitimare stepchild) and Benjamin Thomas Scothon born 26^th October 1914.

He enlisted in Nottingham and originally served as Private 15695, Army Cyclist Corps but following a transfer he was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 57732 when he was killed in action on the 31st July 1917 aged 24 during the Third Battle of Ypres.

17^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August.      

 William now lies in Zantvoorde British Cemetery, Belgium, where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“AT JESU'S FEET HOW SAFE YOUR REST”

Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914.

There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in 1914.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden. 

Reported killed in the Weekly Casualty List 18th Sept 1917

King's (Liverpool Regiment) - Scothon, 57732, W.B. (Nottingham);

Soldiers Effects and Pension to widow Mabel.

His mother Mary died aged 64 in 1935 and father Hedley died aged 80 in 1945.

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