Hugh Scott (1889-1915)

Acknowledgement Mary Parker.
Mary Parker writes:

Hugh lived with his parents John & Isabella Scott in Glasgow. He was a 'big brother' to his young nephew George Buchanan Young Jnr who lived with his Grandparents (George's mother was ill and his father had gone to NZ). Hugh was a clerk in a firm of stockbrokers in Glasgow. Apparently he was a good cricketer, a member of the Uddington Cricket 1st XI & a fast bowler, nicknamed 'Seagull' because of his height & speed. He went tot the First World War with the Cameron Highlanders in 1914. He was killed at the Battle of Loos, France in 1915. There is a memorial headstone at the Pont-Du-Hem Military Cemetery, La Gorgue.

He wrote a final letter to siblings Bella and John two days before his death, the transcripts of which is below. There are also transcripts of letters written about Hugh and a transcript of a letter written to Hugh's mother Mrs Scott from C.W.G. Taylor.

Pictured: Hugh Scott (1889-1915) and his sister Margaret Scott Young taken around 1915.

Hugh's last letter
FRANCE 23/9/15
Dear Bella & John
Many thanks for your last letter enclosing one from Mailler. I have not had much time lately for writing so you can excuse the delay.
We have moved a bit since I wrote you last and have had another spell in the trenches. The part of te line, a new bit to me, was very quiet and we had no casualties in te Battalion. Our Company was in reserve and had quite a decent time. Of course there was the usual fatigue and work but to make up for that we had all fine-dug-outs for sleeping in. the dug-outs were the finest I”ve seen yet, and could hold five or six easily , then there was a little fireplace inside with chimney so that we did all the cooking inside.
We are right in the Mining district here and can see nothing else but pits all round. The weather just now is fine but a little colder today. The nights are very cold and as we are shifted from our Billet to some trenches just beside it, we did not spend a pleasant night. The first night we all rose at the one time and lit a candle or two and talked for about an hour and then tried to sleep again, but it wasn”t much of a success. However we managed to bag some straw and were quite A.1. after that.
There is very little doing here apart from the Bombardment by the French guns that you read about in the papers. Our own Guns have been chipping in occasionally. The Eastern Front is attracting all the attention just now but it would be worth keeping an eye on this Front in a little. The Boys in the Dardanelles are having a pretty rough time and I saw the death of one of the boys in the Office recorded a day or so ago. We only went out about three or four weeks ago.
Well Bella I have nothing more just now so will close hoping you are all keeping well, with love to all.
Your loving brother
Hugh

P.S. One thing you might
tell Mother is not to put meat in the parcel she sends me until I let her know.


_______________________________________

The Manse
Uddington, 9-10-15
My dear Mrs. Scott,
I am sorry to see there is no official news about Hugh yet – unless you have heard today. Even though the account you have received is pretty definite, I know you will be anxiously waiting confirmation. I wonder if there is any room for hope even yet?
I cannot tell you how sorry we both are for you all. Hugh was such a fine fellow, I am glad I was here long enough to know him. It is terrible to think of his as gone, even though we may try to keep up hope a little longer. But it is just the service of all these brave lads that is saving us all. May we all be worthy of so precious a sacrifice and to whom this means so much. I pray that the comfort of God's Holy spirit may descend upon you all, and that the Resurrection of the Soul may point you to the Reunion one day to come.
If you would like it I would be happy to come to the house one day for a short memorial service, just of yourselves and your own friends. But I think we should wait till you hear definitely about him.
In deep sympathy, in which my wife joins, believe me, Yours very sincerely

(sgd) C.W.G. Tayler.
_______________________________________
France, 13th October, 1915
Copy of Jack Macfie's letters addressed to Mr Lightbody.
I have searched high and low for further information about poor Hugh, but with no further result than what I wrote in the letter to father. Even the orderly room where they have him down as "believed killed" can tell me nothing. Hugh left our trenches in command of a bombing party, who were allotted some special task; none of party reached their objective, only one man being left, who immediately joined his company, even he can tell me nothing. You can quite understand this, as in the hurry and excitement there was no time to pay any attention to fallen men, as far as I can learn, he was not bought in, but this again might be accounted for as several of our wounded went straight to the dressing room station without troubling our own medical men. I must honestly confess however that I have few hopes of him being still alive. I am very very sorry that I cannot give you a more hopeful outlook. Hugh was a great favourite with the Company and naturally there was more than casual friendship between him and myself coming from the same little village. My sympathies rest with his poor mother and father in their terrible time of anxiety. Should I hear any further news of him I will at once communicate with you.

____________________________

France. October 14th 1915
Dear Mrs Scott
Having seen the Official Casualty List, I noted with the deepest regret, that Hugh is posted as killed. Owing to the fact that the Battalion is at present in the trenches Ican't get further information, but will let you know whenever I possibly can. It must be some consolation to know that Hugh, as a bomber, took such a leading part in the great attack. I know I am voicing the opinion of all men who came in contact with Hugh when I say that we are all deeply grieved to have such news , and offer to Mr Scott, family, and yourself our deep and heartfelt sympathy in your very sad bereavement.
Yours sincerely
(sgd) A.C. Cullen
___________________________________

To Theo Grey Esq.
Findlay Richardson Co. Ltd
34 West George Street, Glasgow

France 16th/10/15
Dear Tom,
How are you all? It seems ages since I wrote last, but we have been very busy.
On the 25th of last month we went in the trenches with 1000 men and came out on Monday afternoon with 160; so you may judge we had “some” cutting up.
Hugh Scott was killed about 30 yrds from our own fire trench by a rifle bullet. We buried him on the morning of the 28th.
It was simply awful, our Brigade advanced a mile capturing 5 lines of trenches and a village behind these , also the two famous redoubts which you have probably read of in the papers.
During the fight we had Gas Liquid, Fire, and “Weeping Shells” against us. (the latter make your eyes water for some time but are otherwise not bad).
We stood for 12 hours up to our knees in water and it simply rained shrapnel and high explosive, before we were relieved early Sunday morning, then we occupied our original firs line till Monday afternoon when we charged again and with only about 160 men.
Although it was a rotten weekend, and I sincerely hope Mr. Cawood has much better ones at large this season, but I forget it is October now.
As usual there are strong rumours of furlough. Have you heard how John Corner is getting on? Please thank John Murray for his postcard which I got safety. Tell Miss Thornton that Eddie Carvie has a shattered knee and posted missing, but not to get “the wind up” as there is a alright chance of his having been bought in. But I think he”ll never play foot ball again. I was with him for a long time in the captured village where he was wounded.

Must close in haste.
Remember me to all
Yours sincerely
(sgd) Charlie