Buried close to his murderer
RSM James Reuben Scott born in London, England on 30 December 1872, son of Reuben and Elizabeth Scott, St Pancras, London. Married to Alice Scott of 2414A (later 2460) St Dominique Street, Montreal, Quebec.
Last Will and Testament
Scott’s last will and testament completed 2 September 1914. Bequeathing all to his wife, witnessed by Emma Maud Crawford, and John Oliphant. Perhaps a rather unusual time to complete his will for an ordinary infantryman. Most complete such before traveling overseas to France. But, James was married, unlike the majority of men serving in the Great War.
Attestation of James Reuben Scott
James Reuben Scott attested 22 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec and later served with the 1st Canadian Reserve Park, CASC. Three years previous service with the South African Police. In addition, 10 years previous service with the 13th Hussars, and currently with No.15 Company, CASC in the Active Militia.
At this time, Scott stood 5′ 8″ tall, with fresh complexion, blue eyes and brown hair. Motor anchor tattoo left forearm, birth mark left hip.
1st Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse Transport Company, CASC
Organized at Valcartier in September 1914 as No. 1 Reserve Park, CASC. Commanded by Major Charles Adams. Left Quebec 7 October 1914 aboard SS SICILIAN and later arrived in England 14 October 1914 with a strength of 7 officers, 260 other ranks. Arrived in France 26 April 1915, and later redesignated as 1st Canadian Army Auxiliary Horse Transport Company 31 May 1918.
Though never in action, the unit once within earshot of the guns on the line. Discipline in No.1 Reserve Park among the poorest of any unit in the CEF. Major Charles Adams spends an inordinate amount of time disciplining his troops. Only once mentioning the good conduct of his men.
One other Commanding Officer would have as much trouble with his unit, as desertion, absentees and drunkenness commonplace. Two men of the CEF would be Shot at Dawn for the capital offense of murder, and as luck would have it, one of those men a member of No.1 Reserve Park.
Second Battle of Ypres
RSM James Reuben Scott arrived at Devonport on 14 October 1914, and later disembarked on 18 October, proceeding to Amesbury. November to January 1915 spent at Sling Plantation, and Tidworth Barracks from 1 February 1915. Later the unit boards SS MAIDAN at Southampton on 25 April 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres.
Driver Peter Nicholson MacRae
At Tidsworth on 13 February 1915, C/O Major Charles Adams notes the Espirit of all ranks is good, notwithstanding the setbacks. Before long, lack of discipline in the unit becomes a major headache for the Major.
Then, on 16 Feburary 1915, Major Adams Promulgates Sentence of Court Martial on Driver Peter Nicholson MacRae 35482 – 28 days detention. Earlier, MacRae struck-off-strength as a Deserter in December 1914.
MacRae admitted to No.18 General Hospital, Camiers on 19 April 1918 with multiple GSW’s while serving with the 4th Battalion. Private MacRae succumbed to his wounds on 29 April 1918, and buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, Plot LXVII, Row A, Grave 5.
Driver Charles Smollett
On 25 March 1915, one of the last Cerebro Spinal Meningitis deaths of the period occurs in the unit. Driver Charles Smollet 30922 becomes the first recorded death of the Reserve Park, and later buried at Tidsworth Military Cemetery on 29 March 1915.
Driver Harry Scott
Neuville-sous-Montreuil reached on 28 April 1915. Court Martial of Driver Harry Scott 35532 held on 28 March 1915 (Scott transferred to the 15th Battalion on 2 May 1916). Private Scott wounded and remained at duty on 11 April 1918.
Deserters
On 28 March 1915, Driver John B Clermont 35362 struck off on Court of Enquiry as a Deserter, never to be heard from again. Then, on 15 April 1915, Farrier Corporal William Henry Ramsay 35316 absent since 24 December 1914 now in custody on charge of desertion.
After accidentally fracturing his ankle on 21 August 1916, Ramsay declared a bad character, and not likely to become efficient – medals forfeited.
Driver Albert Destrooper
Then on 17 April 1915, Driver Albert Destrooper 15247 of Menin, Belgium, struck off strength on find of Court of Inquiry, as a Deserter. Destrooper had spent considerable time in hospital for a variety of issues – gastric ulcers, gastritis, hypochlorhydria, and several instances of VDG.
Eventually, Destrooper attached to the 2nd Army Intelligence Corps in1917, and demobilizes in the British Isles in April 1919.
France
On 5 May 1915 the unit prepared to move 60,000 rations and 2,400 bags of oats. The unit moves to Estréelles on 8 May 1915, and later moves to La Calotterie on 22 May 1915.
Driver Fred Allcock
On 8 June 1915, Sentence of Court Martial on Driver Fred Allcock 35329 received and promulgated – 84 days Imprisonment with Hard Labour (IHL) for having been drunk on duty. Allcock had been twice served sentences of Field Punishment No.2 in 1914 for having been AWOL. Following his sentence, transferred to No.3 Canadian Field Ambulance on 16 July 1916.
Driver Frank Pancratius McAnley
On 21 June 1915, Major Adams presided at the FGCM held on American Driver Frank Pancratius McAnley 226313 of 32nd Reserve Park at Montreuil, later finding him guilty, and a sentence of 90 days IHL awarded. Later transferred to the 8th Battalion, McAnley died 15 August 1917, on the first day of the Battle of Hill 70.
On 25 June 1915, Major Adams held Summary of Evidence in the case of Driver Frank Mattiucci 41828 charged with Desertion. Later on 11 July 1915, his sentence promulgated – 42 days IHL.
Sentence of FGCM on Driver Ralph Phillips 35510 promulgated on 2 August 1915 – 90 Days Field Punishment No.1. Then, on 5 August 1915, RSM James Reuben Scott left camp on four days leave.
Return of Major-General Sam Hughes
Major-General Sam Hughes visits the camp on 12 August 1915, before moving to Crémarest (closer to Boulogne-sur-Mer) on 14 August 1915. Phillips one of the last men of the CEF to return to Canada in July 1919.
The unit moved to Alquines on 18 September 1915, and the immediate proximity to the local inhabitants proves troublesome – many cases of drunkenness in the unit, as the men can always obtain spirits from the locals for a price. A difficult move later made to Wulverdinghe, north-east of St Omer on 25 September 1915.
Court martials held on 29 September 1915 for Drivers Murray William Fox 35412, Peltier, Arthur Spencer 35547 and John Melvin 35491 (all for drunkenness), and Driver James Patterson 35507 for earlier refusing to obey an order. The men later received sentences ranging from 42 to 91 days of Field Punishment No.1 on 4 October 1915.
Farrier Sergeant Frederick Samuel Hamilton
SSM FS Frederick Samuel Hamilton 35301 sent to hospital at St Omer on 6 October 1915 – Nervous Breakdown. Hamilton returns to the unit over a week later on 15 October 1915, and later the unit returned to Leulinghen on 27 October 1915.
Farrier Corporal Alfred Samuel Buckenham 35352 sent to Boulogne for FGCM on 2 November 1915. Buckenham discharged in England as medically unfit on 7 March 1918.
Promotion of Farrier Staff Sergeant James Reuben Scott
Farrier Staff Sergeant Scott promoted Regimental Sergeant Major Warrant Officer 1st Class, 1 April 1916, at Leulinghem, on occasion of the promotion of W.O. Frederick Samuel Hamilton 04513 to Temporary Lieutenant.
Lieutenant Hamilton developed a colorectal abscess, and returned to Canada in April 1917 for further medical treatment, however, Hamilton died 12 November 1917, and buried in Montreal (Mount Royal) Cemetery, Sec D1/255 B. Later, RSM James Reuben Scott assigned to No.3 Section, 22 April 1916.
Montreal (Mount Royal) Cemetery
Frederick Samuel Hamilton buried not far from the grave of Canada’s most famous soldier.
On 5 April 1916, Driver Benjamin De Fehr 2063 and Driver Thomas Moss 440083 sent to hospital in Boulogne. Later on the same day, Colonel Eastwood held enquiry into the charges preferred by Lance Corporal Walter William Brown 35350 against Sergeant Thomas George Farrar 35320 in the afternoon. Sentences of Brown, King, and Patterson later promulgated on 1 May 1916. On 14 May 1916, the unit moves to Beau-Marais (Calais).
On 17 May 1916, for reasons unknown, RSM James Reuben Scott notified authorities he wished to discontinue the $30 he had been sending home to his wife. Initially, James sending $40 home per month from 1 June 1915 until 1 May 1916, then reduced to $30.
Driver Woodcock pleads guilty to leaving his post during his FGCM on 27 May 1916. The unit moves to Zutkerke on 7 June 1916 and Ochtezeele on 9 June 1916 – the men begin moving stores into Hazebrouck, Belgium.
The Murder of RSM James Reuben Scott
At 7 pm on 19 August 1916, RSM James Reuben Scott shot and died within a few minutes near the orderly room. Though not true, reports he was killed instantly helped lessen the blow to his family. Driver De Fehr placed in arrest on charge of murder. And later at 10 pm, an ambulance arrived and took the body of RSM Scott to No.50 Casualty Clearing Station at Hazebrouck.
Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery
From October 1914 to September 1917, casualty clearing stations posted at Hazebrouck. The Germans shelled and bombed the town between September 1917 and September 1918 making it unsafe for hospitals, but in September and October 1918, No.9 British Red Cross Hospital stationed there.
Commonwealth burials began in the communal cemetery in October 1914 and continued until July 1918. At first, made among the civilian graves, but after the Armistice these earlier burials moved into the main Commonwealth enclosure.
Later on 21 August 1916, RSM Scott buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery – no particulars of the reason for death given to family. Later reported to base, shot dead by Private De Fehr 2063.
Grave of RSM James Reuben Scott
Pension granted to the wife of RSM Scott on 20 August 1916, but later rescinded as James no longer supporting his family from 1 May 1916. Later, James’ war medals sent to Guardians of the Poor, Town Hall, Pancras Road, London, England.
St Pancras
St Pancras a civil parish and metropolitan borough in London. An ancient parish in the county of Middlesex, governed by an administrative vestry. The parish included in the area of responsibility of the Metropolitan Board of Works in 1855 and later became part of the County of London in 1889.
The parish of St Pancras a metropolitan borough in 1900, following the London Government Act 1899, with the parish vestry replaced by a borough council. In 1965 the borough abolished, and its former area later became part of the London Borough of Camden in Greater London.
Driver Benjamin De Fehr
Benjamin De Fehr 2063 born 29 March 1888 in Winkler, Manitoba, son of Isbrand and Katherine DeFehr of Vancouver, British Columbia. Benjamin enlisted 18 November 1914 and later served as a driver in the Canadian Army Service Corps.
De Fehr had no incidents of poor conduct, until 19 August 1916, while serving with the Reserve Park near Hazebrouck, Belgium, he used his rifle to shoot Regimental Sergeant Major Scott in the back. De Fehr overpowered, arrested immediately, later charged with murder, a FGCM punishable offense.
Officially court martialled on 22 August 1916, and while he maintained that he was drunk during the incident, several witnesses testified he had been sober. De Fehr later found guilty of murder and sentenced to death by firing squad.
De Fehr executed three days later, at dawn, 5:20 am 25 August 1916. His body transported to Northumbrian Casualty Clearing Station. However, his remains are today located in Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery, Plot I, Row A, Grave 13. Only three graves away from his victim, RSM James Scott.
Grave of Driver Benjamin De Fehr
Benjamin De Fehr one of two Canadians Shot at Dawn during the Great War for murder, and therefore not offered an apology by the Government of Canada.