Cecil Ewart Scott

Cecil Ewart was the second of the four sons of Thomas (Tom) FrederickScott and his wife Thirza (née Dyer). His father was born in Basford in 1855 (reg. J/F/M) and his mother in Arnold in 1851. They were married at Arnold St Mary on 7 May 1878 and had four sons who were all born in Basford: Frederick Albert A (k/a Bertie) b. 1879, Cecil Ewart b. 1883, George Gideon b. 1886 and Robin Gray b. 1890. In 1881 Tom (26), a butcher, and his wife and their first son, Frederick (sic), were living at 11 High Street, Basford. They were still living in Basford in 1891 but were now on Rawson Street. In the home on the night of the census were their four sons, Bertie, Cecil (9), George (5) and Robin (under 1 year). Also in the household was a general domestic servant. By 1901 Tom was a farmer and he and Thirza were living at Swine House Farm, Daybrook, Arnold, All four sons were still living at home, Bertie who was a farm bailiff, Cecil a clerk, George a farm hand and Robin who was still at school. Ten years later in 1911 Tom had returned to his previous trade of butcher and was working on his own account. He and Thirza were living at 32 Hungerhill Road, Nottingham with three of their sons, Bertie a traveller (confectionery), George a motor driver and Robin an accountant (private). Cecil Ewart had married Mabel Ann Ainsworth in 1910 (A/M/J Nottingham) and they were living at 159 Evington Road, Leicester, where he was working as a manager for an insurance company. Also in the household was a general domestic servant. Cecil and Mabel had a son, Peter Ewart, in August 1917. Mabel and their son were living at 25 Mapperley Hall Drive, Mapperley Park, Nottingham, when Cecil died of wounds in September 1918. Mabel did not remarry and in 1939 she and her son, a university student, were living at 29 Devon Drive, Nottingham, with members of her family. Mabel died on 20 September 1945; she was still living at 29 Devon Drive. Her son Peter Ewart served in the Second World War as a captain in the Royal Engineers; he survived the war. Cecil's father, Tom Frederick, died on 19 December 1920; he and his wife were still living at 32 Hungerhill Road. Thirza died in May 1936. Cecil's three brothers also served in the war: Frederick Albert enlisted on 2 March 1916 aged 37. He was still living with his parents at 32 Hungerhill Road and named his father as his next of kin. He was not called up until 14 December that year when he served in the RH&RFA (Gunner). He was posted to 'A' Battery, 1 Reserve Brigade RFA, on 30 March 1917. but was serving with the No. 1 Reserve Brigade, 3/57th Divisional Ammunition Column, when he was demobilised in February 1919. Frederick may have served in the UK throughout the war. He was discharged to 32 Hungerhill Road. George Gideon enlisted on 14 January 1915; he gave his trade as chauffeur and his former employer had lived in Radlett, Hertfordshire. He was posted to the Army Service Corps (M2/033612 Private) and served in Egypt (12 months), Salonica (3 months) and France (2 years 8 months). George married during the war (Iris Reekie, October 1917, Nottingham) and his wife lived with his parents at 32 Hungerhill Road. He suffered a fractured fibula while serving in France in February 1919 and was invalided to the UK in March 1919 where he spent some weeks in hospital before his discharge. According to his service record he also suffered from influenza, undated but probably shortly before his discharge. Robin Gray was still living with his parents when attested on a Territorial Force engagement (four years service UK) on 24 September 1914 although he transferred to embodied service the same day. He was posted to the South Notts Hussars Reserve (Private) but by October 1917 had been transferred to the Labour Corps (512th, 524th Home Service Employment Coy, 651st Agricultural Company). It seems likely that he served in the UK throughout. Robin married during the war (Gladys Mary Boam, May 1915). He was demobilised in June 1919 in the rank of sergeant (promoted April 1918). Robin died in 1939 a few weeks before the outbreak of war.

In 1901 he was a clerk and a manager for an insurance company by 1911.

Cecil Ewart Scott was originally commissioned into the Sherwood Foresters Regiment in October 1914 but later transferred to the Tank Corps. He died of wounds on 9th September 1918 and is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, Wimille, France (grave ref. III.D.35). The citation for his Military Cross was published in the 'London Gazette' on 18th July 1918: “T./2nd Lt. Cecil Ewart Scott, Tank Corps. “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. His Tank caught fire and nearly all the crew became casualties, but he encouraged the remainder and kept his guns firing until he was obliged to evacuate them owing to the intense heat. He then re-entered the burning Tank at great risk and brought out the wounded under heavy fire. He showed splendid courage and contempt of danger.” CWGC: History of Terlincthun British Cemetery (extract): 'The first rest camps for Commonwealth forces were established near Terlincthun in August 1914 and during the whole of the First World War, Boulogne and Wimereux housed numerous hospitals and other medical establishments. The cemetery at Terlincthun was begun in June 1918 when the space available for service burials in the civil cemeteries of Boulogne and Wimereux was exhausted. It was used chiefly for burials from the base hospitals, but Plot IV Row C contains the graves of 46 RAF personnel killed at Marquise in September 1918 in a bombing raid by German aircraft. In July 1920, the cemetery contained more than 3,300 burials, but for many years Terlincthun remained an 'open' cemetery and graves continued to be brought into it from isolated sites and other burials grounds throughout France where maintenance could not be assured.' (www.cwgc.org)

CWGC Additional information: ' Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Scott, of Nottingham; husband of Mabel Scott, of 25, Mapperley Hall Drive, Nottingham.' CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Well done enter thou into the joy of thy Lord St Matt. 24 Verse 21' Nottingham Evening Post, 'Deaths', 13 & 16 September 1918: notices placed by his parents and widow. Nottingham Evening Post 30th September 1918: “DIED OF WOUNDS. “CAPT. CECIL E. SCOTT, M.C., Tank Corps, second son of Mr. and Mrs. T. F. Scott, of Nottingham, and husband of Mrs. Scott, of 25, Mapperley Hall-drive, died of wounds on September 9th. He received a commission in the Sherwood Foresters in October, 1914, and was wounded last October, having joined the Tank Corps after being in the army 18 months. He was awarded the Military Cross a few months ago for brave conduct when his Tank took fire. He kept his guns firing until obliged to evacuate them by the intense heat, and he entered the Tank to bring out the wounded under heavy fire.” Further information is added in “The Tank Corps Honours and Awards 1916-1919”: “2nd Lieut. CECIL EWART SCOTT, 'H' Battalion. Awarded M.C. “For conspicuous gallantry in action near Gauche Wood on December 1, 1917, while in command of a tank. “His tank received a direct hit and caught fire; three of the crew were killed and two wounded; this officer continued in action, firing six drums from his Lewis gun and encouraging the remainder of the crew to keep on firing with the other remaining guns until he was forced to withdraw the crew on account of the intense heat. He then re-entered the burning tank at great personal risk and brought out the wounded. “During the whole of this time the tank was several hundred yards in front of our own infantry and under direct observation of the enemy and was subjected to heavy artillery shelling and sniping. “2nd Lieut. Scott showed a total disregard for his own safety.” Above are courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918 Nottingham Evening Post, 22 March 1919 (extract): ‘Honours for Nottm Men. More Presentations by the Mahor. Several military distinctions were again presented by the Mayor of Nottingham (Ald. JE Pendleton) , at the Exchange Hall to-day. The Military Cross was presented to Mrs Scott, the widow of Capt. Cecil Ewart Scott, Tank Corps, of Mapperley Park, The Cross was awarded the deceased officer for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Gauche Farm in December, 1917. His tank caught fire, and nearly all the crew became casualties. He encouraged the remainder, and kept his guns firing until he was compelled to evacuate them, owing to the intense heat. He then re-entered the burning tank at great risk, and brought out the wounded under heavy fire. He was killed in action last September.; (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 22 September 1945: Scott. The 20th inst., Mabel, widow of Cecil Scott, and mother of Peter, 29 Devon-drive, Sherwood. Service Monday, 11.30, St John’s, Carrington. Cremation Wilford Hill 12 o’clock.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)