Pte 57867 John Alfred Scott

• Age: 21
• From: New Hartley, Northumberland
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 2nd January 1917
• Commemorated at: De Cusine Ravine B C Basseux
  Panel Ref: F.2

John Alfred Scott was born in the December quarter of 1895 in New Hartley, Northumberland the son of John Scott and his wife Mary Ann (nee Munro). His parents married in 1880 and had four children (according to the 1911 census). Birth records have been found for only three, John and two older sisters, Martha Jane Mary born in 1883 who died at age 1, and Annie Mary Ann born in 1886.  His father was originally from Aylmerton, Norfolk whilst his mother was born in Tynemouth. John Alfred was baptised on 01st December 1895 at Delaval, Northumberland.

New Hartley is a village in Northumberland, about half a mile north-east of Seaton Delaval. Coal mining at (Old) Hartley dates back to the 13th century. As the coal seams around Hartley became exhausted, a new pit, 'Hester Pit', was established about 2 miles to the north-east. The village of New Hartley developed around the new colliery, initially with three main streets: Cross Row, Double Row, Long Row, with houses for the mining families. The village has a memorial to the 204 miners killed in the New Hartley pit disaster of  1862.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 4 Long Row, New Hartley, Seaton Delaval. John Alfred is 5 years of age and lives with his parents and sister. His father is a 42 year old labourer born in Aylmerton, Norfolk, whilst his mother is 41 years old and was born in Blyth. His sister Annie M.A. is 14 years of age. The Census also shows five boarders living at the property four of whom were miners.

John Alfred's father died in late 1902, aged 43.

The Census of 1911 shows that the family are still living at 4 Long Row. John is now 15 and is employed as a coal miner below ground. He lives with his widowed mother, his married sister, her husband and child and his cousin Henry. His sister is shown as Annie Mary Ann Ockleford aged 25, her husband is John Nelson Ockleford a 26 year old coal miner. Their daughter Mary Annie is 3 years of age. John's cousin Henry Scott is a 20 year old miner. There are also 3 boarders and a servant lsited in the household.   

John Alfred enlisted in Blyth joining the Army Cyclist Corps as Private 1289. Based on the amount of the War Gratuity, John volunteered in about November 1914.
He arrived in France on 08 August 1915 with the 1/1 Northumberland Divisional Cyclist Corps. He subsequently transferred to the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 57867.

He was killed in action on 02nd January 1917 and he now rests at De Cusine Ravine British Cemetery Basseux (a village 7 miles southwest of Arras). 

800 metres South East of the village is a ravine called the Fosse de Berles, but known to the French troops (who had a field kitchen there) as the Ravin des Cuisines; and on the further side of the ravine is the British Cemetery bearing a modified form of the French Army name. A French Military Cemetery close to it, also named from the ravine, has now been removed. The cemetery was begun by the 13th King's Royal Rifles in February, 1916, and used by units holding this front until March, 1917; one further burial took place in September, 1917. There are now over 60, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Two brothers are buried in Row C, graves 6 and 7. The cemetery covers an area of 615 square metres and is enclosed by a red brick wall.

John was reported killed in the Newcastle Journal on 29th January 1917.

A sad footnote to this story is that his cousin Henry Scott died of wounds on 08th July 1916 whilst serving with the 11th Battalion of the Northumberland Fusiliers. He lies at Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery Extension in France.

Soldiers Effects, including a War Gratuity of £9-10s, to his mother, who was awarded a pension initially of 4 shillings a week, increased in various increments to 13/6d and 15 shillings (apparently a combined pension for both John and Henry) until her death in 1922, aged 62.

John earned his three medals.

Both John Alfred and his cousin Henry are commemorated on the following Memorials:

St Michael's Church, New Hartley, Whitley Bay

Memorial Hall, New Hartley.

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