This man is a candidate for addition to Keighley's Supplementary Volume under the proposal to add further names in 2024, the centenary of the original roll of honour.
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Supported by the National Lottery's Heritage Fund, our project intends to submit about 120 names for peer review to add them to the book which is kept at Keighley Library. The unveiling of the book with it's new names is planned for November 2024, 100 years after the unveiling of the original war memorial.
Private.1/6th Battalion Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment. Service number 29829.
Private Edgar Scott.
Early life:
Edgar was born at Riddlesden on 6th December 1881. His parents were Edward Scott and Hannah Scott née Smith. Edgar was baptised on 1st January 1882 at St Mary's Church, Riddlesden.
In the 1891 census Edgar was living at Kiln Bank in Morton with his parents, at his maternal grandfather's house. Hannah's widowed father Henry Smith was a 71 year old farm labourer. Edward was 45 and a mechanic for a machine makers. Hannah was 41 and caring for the home. Their children were Durward, aged 13 and a worsted factory hand; Bertha, aged 11 and also a worsted factory hand; Edgar, aged nine and at school with his seven year old sister Grace H. The youngest was William H., aged four.
Edgar's grandfather Henry Smith died in the first quarter of 1901, just before the census was taken.
They were still living at the same house in the 1901 census. Henry has recently died and Edward aged 55 is now the head of the household. He is working as a general outdoor labourer. Hannah is 51 and looking after the home. Durward is 23 and a tin plate worker. Bertha is 21 and a wool comb machine minder. Edgar is 19 and a cooper, Grace H. is 17 and a cotton and silk yarn winder. and William H. is a bobbin taker-off at a worsted spinners.
On 7th June 1909 Edgar married Annie Oldfield at Morton Banks. They have a daughter, Edith born at Morton Banks on 23rd April 1910.
In the 1911 census they are living at 20, Oak Grove, Riddlesden with Herbert and Emily Hebden. Herbert is 49 and a hairdresser, Emily is 34 and they've been married for three years and have no children. Edgar is 29 and a cooper, Annie is also 29 and at home with their daughter Edith aged just 11 months.
Later in the year they have a second child, Herbert Leslie born at Morton Banks 12th December 1911;
Their third child John Edward, is born at Morton Banks on 14th September 1914.
War service:
Edgar enlisted at Keighley on 30th November 1916 under the 1916 Military Service Act. He was 34 years and 11 months old. As a married man with children, he may have actually registered long before this, but was called up later due to his family status (married with children.)
His civilian occupation is Cooper. He states his religion is Methodist, but he was actually baptised at St Mary's Church on Dalton Lane which was Church of England.
His stated next of kin is his father, Edward Scott. His address is 5, Florist Street, Keighley.
The next of kin form signed by Annie on 25th June 1919, lists his two brothers, Durward Scott age 41 living at 23, Fredrick Street, Keighley and William H. Scott age 32 living at 5, Florist Street, Keighley. Also listed are his two sisters, Bertha Scott age 39 and Grace H. Scott, age 35, both living at 5, Florist Street, Keighley.
Nephews and Nieces: Ernest (15), Ellis (9), Grace(12), all of the surname Oldfield, living at 20, Oak Grove, Riddlesden.
Mary J Marston (16) and Clifford Marston at 32, Riddlesden; Winnie and Doris Scott aged nine, living at Worth Village, Keighley.
Edgar was mobilised with the 3rd Battalion, West Riding Regiment on 30th November 1916 and posted with them on 2nd December. He was in training at 'Home' (in this country) from 30th November 1916 to 4th March 1917. A total of 95 days.
His medical details were, height: 5 feet 4 inches; Weight: 114 lbs.
He was posted overseas with the British Expeditionary Force in the 1/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment from 5th March 1917 to 28th February 1918 when he was killed in action. A total of 361 days.
His total Army service: 1 year and 91 days.
Edgar embarked at Folkestone 4th March 1917, arriving at Boulogne on the same day and arrived at the 34th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on 5th March.
He was posted to the 9th Battalion West Riding Regiment on 5th March 1917 and then to 1/6th Battalion on the same day at Etaples. These would have been short term administrative postings until he was with the 1/6th Battalion, which he joined in the field on 24th March. He served with them for about ten months until he was allowed a period of two weeks leave in the United Kingdom from 20th January to 3rd February 1918, when he returned to the front. Edgar was killed in action on 28th February 1918.
War diary - WO-95/2801/4.
1/6th Battalion West Riding Regiment, February 1918:
JUDGE SECTOR.
28th.
Early in the morning the Corps Artillery opened at 3 am and again there was a retaliation on our trenches, though the casualties weren't quite so severe as before. The BUTTE out of which battalion HQ had moved a little way, was heavily shelled. The day was particularly fine and clear and tracks which had been previously quiet received attention from the enemy. No. 29829 Private Scott E. - killed. No. 267013. Private Whittaker R.D. and 204283 Private Shaw J. - both died of wounds.
Edgar's original grave cross.
Edgar is buried in grave 2, row G of Polygon Wood Cemetery in France. His comrades who died the same day are also buried in the same row. Private John Shaw (of Elland in Yorkshire) is buried in grave 5, row G, and Private Richard Dove Whittaker (of Skipton in Yorkshire) is buried in grave 3, row G.
Keighley News report dated 16th March 1918:
BINGLEY AND DISTRICT
Mrs A. Scott of 20, Oak Grove, Morton Banks, has received intimation that her husband Private Edgar Scott of the West Riding Regiment, was killed in action by the bursting of a shell on February 28th. Private Scott leaves a widow and three children.
He was 36 years of age, and joined the Army in November 1916, and went to France in March last year.
He was home on leave about a month ago and prior to enlistment he was a cooper at Messrs Holmes's Brewery, Bingley. Sympathetic letters have reached Mrs Scott from his officers and pals.
Post war and remembrance:
Annie Scott received a separation allowance of 28/- (form dated 14th March 1918).
Annie received just 'one disc' from Edgar's personal effects (probably his ID tag) on 23rd June 1918.
The form to confirm Annie's address for the war memorial plaque and King's Scroll was sent back signed by her on 25th June 1919.
Medals received and signed for by Annie Scott: British War Medal (2nd February 1921) and Victory Medal (1st April 1921).
Annie received a £5 gratuity payment paid on 19th March 1918 which is likely to be an emergency payment to support Edgar's family in the interim period. She also received a pension of 29 shillings and 7 pence a week, for herself and her three children starting on 16th Sept 1918. The children would have received their payments until their 16th birthdays.
Riddlesden War Memorial board.
He is also named as 'E. Scott' on St Mary's Church roll of honour in Riddlesden.
In the 1921 census, Annie aged 39 and their three children Edith aged 11, Herbert Leslie aged nine, and John Edward aged six, were living at 20, Oak Grove, Riddlesden.
Annie died in early April 1931 aged 49, registered in Keighley in the first quarter of the year. The Army Pension Office were notified on 25th April 1931.
John Edward Scott died in 1989 aged 75.
Herbert Leslie Scott died in 1995 aged 83.
Edith married Wilfred Kenyon in 1934. (Wilfred was an ARP Warden in Keighley during WW2.)
Edith died in November 1998 aged 88.
Information sources:
England & Wales, FreeBMD Birth Index, 1837-1915
West Yorkshire, England, Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910
1891 England Census
1901 England Census
England & Wales, FreeBMD Marriage Index, 1837-1915
1911 England Census
British Army World War I Service Records, 1914-1920
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library
National Archives war diaries, WO-95/2801/4
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects, 1901-1929
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923
1921 Census Of England & Wales
England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005
1939 Register
