Peterborough & The Great War

Biography

John Baxter Scott enlisted in to the Territorial Force on 14 September 1914, at the age of 19.  His home address was given as 17 Main Street, Sauchie, Clackmannanshire.

On 1 August 1916, he was posted to France and transferred to 11^th Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders on 2 October 1916.  On 24 March 1917, he was confined to camp for three days for the offence of “while on active service absent off parade 8.30am”.

His service record states that whilst serving in Arras on 23 April 1917, a shell burst resulted in John being buried in a trench, causing him to spend seven weeks in Frevant Hospital.  On 9 July 1917, he reported sick with a condition described as “poor physique, headache, general nervous state”.  He reported that at 11.30am on 9 July 1917 at a place unknown, he was going up the line and a shell burst 5-10 yards away (two were wounded).  He felt heat from the shell and tasted powder.  He lost his speech, was taken to the trenches, saw the Medical Officer and was sent to the Field Ambulance.  His Commanding Officer certified that “he had been subjected, during the course of his duty, to exceptional exposure of shell fire.  The shell landed very close to this man, wounding another man of the platoon who was standing next to him.  This man was seen just after the explosion and it is certain that he had a genuine shock from the explosion”.  The case was classified as shell shock.  On 26 July 1917, John was rendered non-effective for duty and discharged to labour duties.

John was demobilised on 28 February 1919 to YMCA Shillinghill, Alloa, Clackmannanshire.  He was awarded a pension of eight shillings per week from 27 February 1920 to 19 July 1921 for his disability of aggravated gastritis.

He was awarded the British War and Allied Victory Medals.

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