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From Ballarat & District in the Great War13 mins

When General Sir William Birdwood visited Ballarat in February 1920 to lay the foundation stone for the Arch of Victory, there were many touching and memorable moments: a widow with her two fatherless sons, one proudly wearing his late father’s Military Medal; a list of distinguished soldiers being personally decorated by the famous general – and a box that was presented to Birdwood himself that contained dozens of small “bereavement cards” handwritten by grieving parents and wives to signify a community’s loss. Amongst the poignant tributes was a black-edged card from the parents of Corporal Joseph Henry Scott.

John Scott and his wife, Elizabeth Rowe Gilmour Hutton, were both born in Ballarat East in the years after the dramatic Eureka uprising. Their eldest son, Joseph Henry, was also born in Ballarat East – arriving in 1889.

Going into partnership with Willey Pascoe in 1890, John Scott established Scott & Pascoe, Bakers at 10 Essex Street. Whilst Pascoe lived on the bakery premises, the Scott family lived in nearby Inkerman Street.

When Joseph reached school age, he joined his older sister, Jemima, at the Urquhart Street State School. Their younger brother, Robert, was the next to attend the imposing brick school.

Most families of this era suffered the loss of a child to the multitude of deadly childhood illnesses that prevailed. The Scott’s certainly suffered similarly to most in that regard, with the loss of infants John Clifford in 1894, Alma Ann in 1898, and toddler, Kirby Robinson, in 1903. But it was a tragic accident in 1906, that was to prove most devastating.

The family had joined some 300 other locals at the Methodist Sunday School picnic on 23 November. Groups were being ferried across Lake Wendouree to the botanic gardens onboard the steamer Ballarat. Several empty boats were being towed behind the steamer. Robert Scott (who was then 14) and another lad, Lowan Richardson, had travelled across the water in one of the small boats. They were apparently standing up and were displaced into the water as the steamer turned sharply into the jetty. Reverend John Thomas, who witnessed the incident, dove into the water fully clothed and managed to rescue Lowan Richardson. Robert Scott, however, had sunk immediately in the eight feet deep water and became hopelessly caught in the lake weed. Despite the frantic efforts of Reverend Thomas and two other gentlemen, he could not be rescued. Hours later his body was recovered by the use of grappling hooks. John Scott had the painful duty of identifying his son’s body.

Nothing could replace the loss of a child who was verging on manhood, but the birth of John and Elizabeth’s final child, Gordon Lincoln, on 18 August 1908, brought a certain degree of happiness back into the Scott household. Certainly, Joseph was particularly fond of his new baby brother.

After completing his primary education, Joseph had continued on to study at Miss Abrams Business College, Ballarat in Albert Street. The school was designed to educate young people for a commercial career – Annie Abrams and her younger sister, Fanny, were so successful the college was incorporated into the Ballarat School of Mines. It seems likely that Joseph was being groomed to further develop the family business.

His education completed, Joseph joined his father in the bakery business. Darkly good-looking, with smiling brown eyes, the young man quickly became popular with the public for his genial and likeable nature. Having grown up around the bakery it wasn’t long before he had qualified as a master baker in his own right.

Joseph also joined the 4th Light Horse Field Ambulance, which was under the command of Colonel C. H. W. Hardy. He gained over three years’ experience working alongside one of the finest doctors in the district.

A common community aspect of the period was membership to a variety of lodges that offered specific benefits. Joseph was no exception – he was a member of the Manchester Unity International Order of Odd Fellows as part of the Loyal Victoria Lodge.

The declaration of war in August 1914 saw an immediate influx of volunteers to local recruiting depots desperate not to miss out on the “grand adventure”. Of course, many truly believed the war would be over by Christmas. Joseph Scott thought deeply about making the commitment, and, when Christmas 1914 came and went with no end to the war in sight, he made the decision to enlist. He presented himself at the Ballarat Depot on 18 March 1915 to undergo a medical examination by Dr A. B. Campbell. Whilst he was not overly tall at just 5-feet 5¼-inches, he was quite solidly built at 10-stone 6-pounds and could expand his chest to 37-inches.

After being passed fit for active service, Joseph signed his oath on 22 March. He was then posted to the 2nd Motor Transport Company with the 6th Field Ambulance, under the leadership of his old commander, Colonel Hardy.

Along with his mate, Harry Lingham, Joseph embarked from Melbourne onboard the troopship Ajana on 4 June 1915. The unit was quickly prepared to join the Gallipoli Campaign, and sailed for the Dardanelles on 30 August. Joseph worked solidly for three months ferrying the wounded and ill between the Greek island of Lemnos and Egypt.

Writing to Mr Syd Eudey of Skipton Street, Ballarat, Joseph spoke in broad and chatty terms – including mentioning the Wiles’ Cooker that had been made in his home town.

‘…1 January 1916
I can't say how pleased I was to get the box of 'goodies' by this morning's mail. To use a Biblical term - 'Great was the joy thereof.'

I must say that New Year's Day here was not at all like the usual; but when we were supplied with short bread, pudding, cake, etc, by our kind friends overseas, it made one feel as though he were not so far away after all.

I can't say much as regards movements here as the censorship is fairly strict. A familiar Ballarat face bobs up now and again, and serves to remind us of old home associations.

The inactivity has a tendency to make our stay in Egypt monotonous. We would like to be in the thick of it. I've had enough of Egypt. We just get settled down when we get orders to quit. It is like a bad tenant being turned out.

Our Wiles' Cooker is doing great work in catering for us, and I guess there are many worse off than we and as regards rations, etc I am in the pink of condition (11 stone of the best).

Snowy and Kenty have just come into the tent, so I am at home to all friends tonight.
Remember me to all the boys…'

Amongst the inclusions with his letter was a leaflet concerning a polo match in Egypt. The match was between the 16th Ally Slopers' Cavalry and the 6th Linseed Lancers and team lists were as follows - Lancers: Major Dane on Forceps, Major Makin on Pill King, Captain Adey on Cough Mixture, Captain Cordner on Sawbones, Captain Wilkinson on Disinfectant, and Captain Johnson on Porous Plaster. The Cavalry: Captain C. H. E. Manning on Lyddite, Captain J. W. Blanche on Dreadnought, Captain J. S. Duffy on Hot Stuff, Lieutenant H. W. Ennis on La Renee, and Lieutenant R. Kerr on French Maid. The Referee was Colonel C. H. W. Hardy on Germ!

Joseph had been on the Western Front for nearly six months when he was involved in a nasty accident. On 1 September he’d failed to comply with traffic regulations at Hénencourt that caused an accident with a horse, which had to be put down. After being found guilty, his driver’s certificate was confiscated, was fined seven day’s pay and received seven day’s Field Punishment No2.

On 23 December, Joseph was transferred to the 1st Divisional Supply Column; he spent the greater part of 1917 driving for the unit. Following a transfer to the 2nd DSC, he was immediately detached for duty with his old unit, the 6th Field Ambulance.

Early in the New Year Joseph promoted temporarily to the rank of corporal. This was made permanent on 7 May 1918.

The 6th Field Ambulance had been relieved by the 91st British Field Ambulance between Warfusée and Bayonvillers on 18 August and were preparing to move back to the French village of Daours. Just before the Tent Division was due to be bussed out of the area, an enemy shell landed in the camp, close to the motor ambulance car park, with fatal results. Joseph Scott and Driver Colin Love took the full force of the blast and were killed instantly.

Later the same day, their bodies were brought down to the Ambulance Headquarters and buried during the evening at Daours Communal Cemetery Extension by Reverend C. V. Cogan (who was attached to the 55th Casualty Clearing Station). Most of the officers and men of the 6th Field Ambulance attended the funeral.

The official telegram was delivered to John and Elizabeth Scott by Reverend Joseph Snell. Unfortunately, mistakes were made in the communication and initially they were told their son had died from disease – and a communication from Base Records gave the date of death as 11 August. This caused unnecessary distress to the family, who were required to enlist help from their solicitor to confirm when and how Joseph had actually died.

Before Joseph had left Australia, he had drawn up his Will with P. Maddern & Sons, in Lydiard Street, Ballarat. He made a special bequest to his mother, who was to receive his insurance policy. His little brother, Gordon, was bequeathed £25 that was specifically for the boy’s schooling. The remainder of his estate was to be divided between his sisters – Mima, Evelyn, Maggie and Jean.

General Birdwood was accustomed to the grief after years of war; like so many of his comrades he learned to shut emotions to a bare minimum. But being confronted by the families, witnessing the rawness of loss on a communal scale it would be expected that the emotion would crack his usual jovial façade. The card from Joseph Scott’s parents read,

‘…Mr & Mrs J. Scott, father & mother of Corporal J. H. Scott 3221 2nd Aus Mech Transport Coy attached to 6th Field Ambulance. On active service March 22nd 1915 Killed in action Bayonvillers France August 18 1918…’

Even though these cards were personally presented to Birdwood, he chose to leave them behind in Ballarat. His reasons for doing so are not known.

Sadness and grief were emotions that John and Elizabeth Scott had become almost inured to, but they were to suffer the loss of another child when their daughter, Evelyn, died in June 1925. Of their ten children, only four would live to full adulthood. Their strength and stoicism in the face of such loss should never be forgotten.