MY WAR DEAD
SCOTT, Frederick Robert - died 23rd April 1918.
Frederick Robert Scott was born in Wimbledon in June 1896, being the 5th child and third son of Thomas Edwin Scott, a rubber goods salesman, and his wife who had been born Sarah Jane Bolitho. The family appears to have lived at the same address, 51 Victory Road, in Wimbledon for many years, at least from 1901 until Thomas' death in 1931.
Frederick did not have any stated occupation at time of the 1911 census but he later joined the Royal Navy and served as an Able Seaman aboard HMS Vindictive, a cruiser. The ship had been built in 1897 and had become obsolescent by 1914 but still saw action in the South Atlantic and then in the White Sea; she was refitted in early 1918 and was involved in a fierce action at Zeebrugge on 23rd April 1918 in which she suffered severe damage.
This action saw the award, by ballot, of a Victoria Cross to the Captain of the ship, Alfred Carpenter, and another to the leader of the Naval landing force, Lieutenant Commander Arthur Harrison, who lost his life in the action. Able Seaman Albert McKenzie, also of the 'Vindictive' and who was not quite 20 years of age, was another recipient of the highest award for gallantry that the nation can confer. McKenzie was part of the landing party and showed particular courage in using his machine gun under the most difficult of circumstances; he was severely wounded, yet survived, to be awarded the Victoria Cross, by ballot of his peers. Still recovering from his wounds, he received his medal from the King at Buckingham Palace on 31st July July 1918; shockingly, he died of influenza less than 4 months later. Five other Victoria Crosses were awarded following this action in which Frederick Scott also lost his life.
What part Frederick played in this action is not known but it is clear that he was involved in one of the most brutal and important short engagements of the war; the award to Albert McKenzie acknowledged that many of his comrades on that mission had shown great courage in the performance of their duties and that others may have been equally worthy of it.
Frederick died on that day, 23rd April 1918, aged 21, as a result of enemy action and is buried at Gap Road Cemetery, Wimbledon. He did not marry, although several of his siblings did, and he had a number of nephews and nieces; he was also survived by his parents.
Frederick Robert Scott was my 3rd cousin, twice removed.