Pte Joseph Scott

Joseph Scott was born in Knowsley, Lancashire, in the spring of 1886, the son of Joseph Scott and his wife Mary (née Holden). His parents, both born in Knowsley, married in 1869, and had twelve children. Joseph had older siblings Edward (died at 3 months), Elizabeth, Rachel, Alice,  Joseph (died aged 1), George, James, and Josiah, and younger siblings Frederick, (died at 10 months), Mary, and Louisa.

 

Joseph was baptised on 09th May 1886 in St. Mary’s, Knowsley.

 

In 1891 the family is living in Scorefield Cottages, off Pinfold Lane, Knowsley, with seven children and two lodgers. His father is a joiner, Joseph is 5.

 

The family are in Pinfold Lane in 1901, with six children. His father, now aged 52, is a joiner, his mother is aged 51. There are seven children in the household; George aged 21 is a garden labourer, James aged 19 is a painter's apprentice, Josiah aged 17 is also a garden labourer, Joseph, 15, is a joiner’s apprentice, Mary is aged 11 and Louisa is 9. Living with them is grandson Alexander Scott, 9, he is listed as a son.

 

His younger sister Mary died in 1904 at the age of 14, and his father in 1910 aged 62.

 

In 1911 his widowed mother, 61, is head of household at Scorefield Cottages. There are five children in the household; George, aged 31, is a building labourer, Josiah, 27, and grandson Alexander Scott, 19, are road labourers for the county council, Joseph is 25, a joiner, and Louisa, 19, has no occupation listed.

 

When he was 27, on 15th January 1914, Joseph married Susannah Thomas, age 23, in St. Mary’s Church, Knowsley.  The witnesses included his brother George and sister Louisa.

 

The young married couple lived in Church Road, Knowsley. A daughter, Ethel Mary, was born in December 1914, and baptised on 05th December in St. Mary’s, but sadly lived for only two days and was buried in St. Mary’s churchyard on 11th December.  

 

He enlisted in Liverpool and joined the 19th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 24286.

 

Joseph embarked for France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

His mother died in September 1916, aged 66.

 

At some point Joseph was transferred to the 4th Bn K.L.R. and later to the 13th Bn.  Unfortunately his service record has not survived, so it is not known where he served during the two and three-quarters years he was overseas.

He was killed in action on the 31st August 1918. Details of the action in which Joseph was killed were recorded in the Battalion diary:

August 30 – At night time the battalion moved up in preparation for an attack on Ecoust.

August 31 – the Battalion attacked and were successful in obtaining their objective as also did the 1^st Gordon Highlanders on their Left. The Battalion on the Right flank, however, did not get their objective and this necessitated a withdrawal temporarily and subsequently the Battalion re-took the objective though suffering heavy casualties. 

Estimated Casualties:  9 Officers, 200 Other Ranks.  

Joseph now rests at Ecoust St Mein British Cemetery where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"THE LORD PRESERVETH ALL THEM THAT LOVE HIM". 

 

 

His CWGC headstone gives his age as 33, but based on birth registration and census ages, Joseph was 32 when he was killed.

 

Joseph earned his three medals.

 

His widow Susannah received his Army effects, including a War Gratuity of £17.  She was awarded a pension from May 1919.

 

Susannah remarried in 1923 and had two daughters, but died at the age of 45 in 1935, living in Sugar Lane, Knowsley.

 

His brother Josiah joined the Cheshire Regiment in November 1916, served in France, was later transferred to the Labour Corps, and was demobbed in February 1919.

 

Joseph is commemorated on the Prescot Roll of Honour.

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