William Stokes Scott

Rank 
Private
Regiment 
South Staffordshire Regiment
Date of death 
12 October 1917
Age of death 
38
Local memorial 
Cemetery / Memorial 
Belgium
Biography 

Born in 1879 at Hornsey, son of John (Drapery Manufacturer) and Ann Stokes.1881: With his family at 3 Stapleton Hall Road, Hornsey. 1891: A Scholar with his family at 3 Stoneleigh Villas, Woodford Bridge. The family seems to be missing from the 1901 and 1911 Census. In 1903 he married Annie Varney in the Islington District. Their family home was later 7 West Grove, Woodford Green.

He was resident in Woodford when he enlisted at Epping, initially serving with the Royal Flying Corps before transferring to the South Staffordshire Regiment.

At 03.00 on 10th October 1917 the Battalion was preparing for the 1st Battle of Passchendaele, and departed from Whitemill Camp near Elverdinghe. They dug in at Namur Crossing ready to attack enemy trenches north east of Pilckem. The night of 11/12 October was wet and cold. At 04.45 the Companies lined up ready for Zero Hour at 05.25. Almost as soon as they moved off, men began falling victim to machine guns. With the majority of Officers killed or wounded, the Battalion nevertheless pressed ahead and by 11.00 “B” Company had taken its final objective - Turenne Crossing. The Battalion then began consolidating at Turenne Crossing and Angel Point Road.

The success came at a price; 18 Officers and 340 Other Ranks had become casualties. Among those Killed in Action and not recovered was William Scott.

Research by Adrian Lee, Local Historian

Sources:

Ancestry.com

Regimental War Diary