2984 Thomas Hunter Cossar Scott 4Bn Highland Light Infantry

[Guest]

For many years I have been trying to identity my grandfather. He was Thomas Scott, a Scottish soldier camped in Maldon, Essex in the autumn of 1916. Until recently I thought he had not survived the war, I now doubt that.

I now know I am genetically related to Thomas Hunter Cossar Scott who was born 25 Sept 1893 in Melrose, Roxburghshire, Scotland. Before the war he was a bank clerk. I don’t know where or when, but he enlisted in the Highland Light Infantry 17^th Battalion (Glasgow Pals) and is recorded as 2984 Pte. Scott Thomas H. C.

I assume he trained with the battalion and left Southampton on 22 Nov 1915 for France.

The battalion fought in the battle of the Somme and Thomas was reported wounded on 2 Aug1916.

I have been unable to find any further record of what happened to him until 17 Sept 1917 when the London Gazette Supplement reports, ‘The undermentioned cadets to be temp. 2^nd Lts.(attd):-29 Aug, Thomas Hunter Cossar Scott of K. R. Rif.C.

I would like know what is likely to have happened to him following his wounding and in particular if it possible that he became attached to the HLI (2/9 & 2/6) who were in Maldon from March to December 1916. My mother was conceived sometime early November 1916.

[clk]

Hi,

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

2 hours ago, King Harold said:

Thomas was reported wounded on 2 Aug1916.

 

If that's the date of a published War Office casualty list/newspaper report, it might relate to an actual date of wounding on 1.7.1916.

Image sourced from Findmypast

 

The Battalion war diary is available as a free download from here.

 

What's left of his service file is held by the National Archives, and would hopefully fill in some detail - link

 

It seems that he may have been originally commissioned to the 5th Battalion King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Images sourced from the National Archives

 

The December 1919 Army List shows him as serving with one of the Service Battalions though.

 

 

 

 

 

Images sourced from the National Library of Scotland

 

Hopefully one of the KRRC specialists may have some more detail on his officer career.

 

Edit:

 

In terms of his 2984 17/HLI number, surviving papers show:

 

2979 Winning - attested 28.5.1915

2980 Raffles - attested 28.5.1915

2984

2991 Grant- attested 4.6.1915

2995 Ireland- attested 7.6.1915

 

Regards

Chris 

Edited 30 August , 2020 by clk

[david murdoch]

He certainly survived WW1!

He's seen in the records as heading for South Africa 8/12/1923 - on his own  - occupation Bank Clerk. Then also seen coming back in 1951 as a Bank Manager with a 20 year old son John Scott to an address in Croydon. He owned a bunch of properties in Earlston, Berwickshire in the 1930's valuation rolls but appears based in South Africa.

He married in UK in 1927 and remarried in South Africa in 1953 a couple of years after his first wife died.

He died 16/10/1962 in Cape Provence, South Africa.

[sotonmate]

KH

 

His officer service file (WO339/82805 as mentioned by clk) will almost certainly contain his papers as an OR on first enlistment. Not yet digitised so you may need to seek a visit to Kew or find someone, often here, who may be able to help you when they visit. Another alternative is to order a file copy but worth getting a quote first !