ANZAC Heroes | Great War 1914 – 1918

Bunbury – Wellington District Western Australia

SCOTT, John Burns MID

Full Name: John Burns

SCOTT MID

Date of Birth: 05

–

1873

Place of birth: Westbury Launceston TAS

Australia

Occupation: Agent

Address: Katanning WA

Next of Kin: Wife – Eleanor SCOTT (nee GILBERT)

Next of Kin Address: Taylor Street Katanning WA

Religion: Methodist

Service Number: Major

Rank: Major

Unit/Division: 10th Light Horse Regiment

Enlistment Date: 1914-10-28

Enlistment Location: Perth

WA

Embarkation Port:

Embarkation Date: 1915-02-17

Embarkation Ship:

Disembarkation Port:

Disembarkation Date: 1915-03-13

Locations Served:

,

Returned: No

Discharge Date:

Cause of Death: Killed in Action

Date of Death:

Place of Death: Gallipoli Turkey

Age at Death: 42

Burial Location: Embarkation Pier Cemetery Gallipoli – Spec. Memorial Row C No. 43.

Previous Service – Australian Field Artillery Tasmania – 2 years
85th Battalion Senior Cadets Great Southern Western Australia – C/O 1 year
28/10/1914- Completed Application for Commission Perth WA
30/11/1914- Appointment recommended by Commanding Officer
05/12/1914- Appointment recommended by District Commandant
05/12/1914- Appointed Captain “C” Squadron 10th Light Horse Regiment (LHR) WA
16/01/1915- Promoted Major 10th LHR WA
17/02/1915- Embarked Fremantle WA aboard “Surada” bound for Egypt
13/03/1915- Disembarked Alexandria to Overseas Training Base Heliopolis Egypt
16/05/1915- Embarked Alexandria with Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces bound for Gallipoli
07/08/1915- Commander of fourth row of Light Horsemen in Charge at the Nek Russell’s Top, Galliopli
13/09/1915- Appointed Temporary in charge of 8th LHR at Anzac Gallipoli
26/09/1915- Returned to be Second in Command of 10th LHR at Anzac Gallipoli
08/10/1915- Killed in Action Gallipoli (Severe shrapnel wounds)
10/10/1915- Buried at No. 2 Post Gallipoli- Service by Chaplain E GREEN
11/12/1915 – Mention in Despatches.

SERVICE MEDALS AWARDED

Mention in Despatches (Oak Leaves)
1914/1915 Star – No. 10671
British War Medal – No. 9173
Victory Medal – No. 9125
Memorial Plaque/Scroll – 356428.

MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS

Kings Park 10th Light Horse Regiment Memorial WA
Australian War Memorial Canberra ACT – Panel No. 8
Launceston Church Grammar School WW1 Honour Board TAS
Hagley Methodist-Uniting Cemetery Westbury Tasmania
Embarkation Pier Cemetery Gallipoli- Special Memorial Row C No. 43.

 

MENTION IN DESPATCHES

Commonwealth of Australia Gazette: 6 April 1916, Page 861, Position 86
London Gazette: 28 January 1916, Page 1208, Position 4.

BROTHER’s SERVICE DETAILS

SCOTT, Lieut Ernest Charles Gordon –  10th Light Horse Regiment, Enlisted Perth WA-  28/10/1914,    Wounded in Action Gallipoli on 17 July 1915,  Died on Board “Sicilia ” on 19 July 1915 from wounds Received in Action – Buried at Sea between Gallipoli and Malta. Memorial Inscriptions at Australian War Memorial Canberra ACT Panel No. 8 and Lone Pine Memorial Gallipoli Panel No. 9.

 

AUTHOR NOTES:

7th August 1915 – Charge at The Nek Walkers Ridge Gallipoli

Major John Burns SCOTT was the Commanding Officer of  “C” Squadron of the 10th Light Horse Regiment who were the members of the fourth line committed to the famous bayonet charge at Walkers Ridge Gallipoli.
Following the obliteration of the first two lines of men from the 8th Light Horse Regiment, Lieutenant Colonel BRAZIER had sought cancellation of orders to continue the senseless charge from Brigadier General ANTILL ,who replied with”Push on” to carry out orders.

When BRAZIER returned to the front line trenches, Major SCOTT explained that he had just witnessed the third line of men (10th Light Horsemen from WA) similarly slaughtered by the enemy and that in his opinion the task they were set could not be achieved. BRAZIER again sought cancellation of orders.
During BRAZIER’s time away, SCOTT withheld his men from the charge and resulted in saving most of their lives accordingly. Most of these men were from”C” Squadron and partly from “B” Squadron..