Joseph Scott

Joseph Scott

Personal Information
Date of Birth	28 Feb 1897
Place of Birth	Jarrahdale, Western Australia
Death	30 Aug 1917, aged 20
Place of Death	Reserve Lazarett, Munster Lager, Germany
Age at Enlistment	18 years, 7 months
Description	5'5¾" (1.67m) tall ; 145 lbs 65.771 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Guard
Religion	Church of England
Address	Wellington Mills, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Mother , Mrs Annie Scott
Military Information
Reg Number	15161
Date of Enlistment	29 Sep 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	10th Field Artillery Brigade, 3rd Reinforcement, transferred to A Company 16th Battalion / 4th Brigade, 4th Division
Ship Embarked On	unknown
Fate	Prisoner of War 11 Apr 1917 1st Bullecourt Died of Wounds 30 Aug 1917 Munster Lager.
Monument	Jarrahdale Honour Roll ANZAC Memorial Park (Byford) Australian War Memorial The Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial Ballarat, Victoria
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry for 1913 - guard at Hoffman's Mill.

War Service

Initially identified for Artillery reinforcements in WA, he was sent to Maribyrnong in Melbourne to undertake specialist training there, and was re-allocated to the 10th FAB, 3rd reinforcement draft. However, the ship carrying the draft to England stopped of in Fremantle, and so did Joseph who failed to re-embark. Joseph's records for this period are incomplete, but it appears that he went back to Melbourne for a time as the first entry connected with England is on 25 Oct 1916.

On arrival in England Joseph appears to have spent some time at the artillery training centre at Fort Wellington but was then transferred to the 4th Training Battalion on 23 Oct 1916. During his time in England Joseph was charged with being AWOL from 9:30 until noon on 1 Oct 1916 for which he was awarded 3 days Confined to Barracks, and the forfeiture of a days pay. He was also transferred to the 16th Battalion reinforcements on 25 Oct 1916 and his Regimental Number changed from 6110 to 15161.

On 28 Nov 1916 he proceeded overseas to France from Folkestone on SS Princess Henriette, and was at the 4th Division's Base Depot in Étaples until sent forward to join the 16th Battalion on 16 Dec 1916, just as they moved from Ribemont to Cardonette where they spent the remainder of the month re-organising and undertaking specialist training. On 20 Mar 1917 Joseph was seen by the 13th Field Ambulance and treated for scabies, rejoining the battalion on 2 Apr 1917.

Joseph participated in the attack on the Hindenburg Line at Bullecourt on 11 Apr 1917, and at the end of the day he was posted as missing. One of more than a thousand men who were taken prisoner when the men who had captured the German front line trenches were left without tank or artillery support until they ran out of ammunition. Most were unable to retreat across the battlefield which was swept by enemy fire. Joseph's capture was slightly different in that he had been severely wounded with a bullet wound to the throat area. With Australian medical staff unable to retrieve him, he was captured near Reincourt. It would appear that he was well enough a one point to send a post card advising of his capture, with the battalion advised of his status on 5 Jun 1917. However, on 21 Nov 1917 the battalion was advised that he had died from his wounds on 30 Aug 1917 while a prisoner.

Red Cross file: . "Died 30.8.17 of GSW to head (throat) - Lazarette Munster"

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  Hamburg Cemetery CWGC photo
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  Commonwealth War Graves Commission

External Links

• AIF Project
• RSL Virtual War Memorial
• Ballarat POW Memorial