Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John STOTT, known as Jack by all who knew him was born in New Deer, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Jack was the Eighth of 15 children born to James Glennie STOTT & Ruth Ross PRATT. Jack grew up in his native Scotland.

Enlisting on 16 April 1917 in Perth, Scotland, Jack was issued Regimental Service Number S/22855 with the Rank of Private and assigned to the 6TH Battalion Territorial Force, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). Unfortunately, it appears that Jacks’ file for his Great War Service may have been destroyed by fire after a German bombing raid on London in September 1940 during the Second World War. From Post Card photos in Family possession, we know that Jack Served on the Western Front in France and Belgium as part of the 153RD Brigade of the 51ST Highland Division, the original Post Card of Jack in his Military Service Dress reads Aberdeen, May 1917. Based on this date Jack hadn’t yet left for the Front. Another Post Card in family possession of Jack in uniform show him to be qualified as a Regimental Signaller. Going through official diaries of the 51ST Highland Division, during 1917 fought in the Battles of Arras, The Capture and Defence of Roeux, Pilkem Ridge and Menin Road Ridge. During 1918 the Division fought in the Battles of St. Quentin, Bapaume, Estaires, Hazebrouck, Tardenois, 2ND Arras and Selle.

The 6TH Battalion, Black Watch was awarded the Croix De Guerre (Cross of War), The French medal to recognize acts of Bravery during the Battle of Tardenois (Marne) between 20 and 30 July 1918, Jack was more than likely present during this Battle.  

He was wounded on 24 August 1918 for which he received the Silver War Badge and entitlement to wear a wound stripe. From Jacks’ enlistment forms for Service in the Second World War with his local Volunteer Defence Corps at Neerim, Jack states that he was discharged medically unfit due to a shrapnel wound to his right hand, so we can only assume that this was from an Artillery shell. After this incident it appears Jack was withdrawn from the Front line being discharged medically unfit on 27 December 1918 in Perth, Scotland.  The injury Jack sustained during Battle was serious enough that he made pension claims between 1919 – 1922 citing disability as the reason. From these records we know Jacks’ residence to be Torphins, Aberdeenshire, about 60km southwest of New Deer.

Jack married his wife Jean in Scotland and on 4 January 1922 Jack and Jean sailed for Australia aboard the Aberdeen White Star Line S.S Demosthenes. They landed in Melbourne and settled around the Neerim area and would be soon followed by his older Brother James and his wife Mary. Jack and James worked in the logging mills around Neerim and Noojee for most of the 1920’s to the early 1930’s.  Jack and Jean eventually purchased a property along Main Neerim Road, Neerim South just a few doors up from where the J.D. Algie Hall exists today. Jack is remembered by living Family members as being a very kind and quietly spoken man who was always willing to help people. Jack and Jean had four Children, Maise, Jessie, Ean and Ruth. While living in Neerim South Jack owned Stotts’ Central Garage which was eventually taken over by his Son Ean, the building is on the Southern side of J.D Algie hall and was purchased by Paul Jensen. Jack often helped his brother James on his Dairy farm at McDougal Road, doing harvest and other farm tasks.  Also noted on Jacks’ Second World War enlistment form is his occupation as ‘Milk Carrier’, based on this through the 1940’s this would’ve been one of his trades. Jack and Jean were involved in the local activities, regularly attending church. Living in Neerim South for the remainder of his life, Jack passed away on 9 May 1971 at Neerim South, aged 72, Jean passed away on 27 February 1974, also aged 72 years, they are both buried in the Warragul cemetery.

Lest We Forget.

Submitted by: Luke James Nobelius      

Compiled from War Records, and local/family histories