Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Walter Vernon Scott, a railway station master, born 1866 in Cambridge and his wife Kate Scott (nee Smith, married on the 4th October 1886 in St. Peter’s Church, Whetstone, Leicestershire), born 1867 in Blaby, Leicestershire. Frederic’s mother died aged 28 in November1895 and was interred on the 21st November in Blaby Cemetery, Leicestershire. Frederic’s father married Elizabeth Franklin, on the 24th August 1897 in the Parish Church, Glen Parva and South Wigston, Leicestershire, Elizabeth was born in 1879 in Leicester. Frederic was born in the 2nd quarter of 1893 in Blaby and baptised on the 20th April 1893 in All Saint’s Church, Blaby, his siblings were, Walter Vernon, born 25th February 1888 and Leonard George, born 1889, the latter two siblings were both born in Stantonbury, Buckinghamshire, Clifford Ernest, born in the 3rd quarter of 1895 in Blaby and his half blood sibling, Robert, born 22nd June 1900 in Glen Parva, Leicestershire, in March 1901 the family home was at The Station Masters House, Charnwood Street, Coalville, Leicestershire. In April 1911 Frederic engaged as a pupil teacher and was residing in the family home at The Station Masters House, Charnwood Street, Coalville, together with his father, a railway station master, his step mother and sibling, Clifford, a telegraph messenger boy, and half blood siblings, Robert, a schoolboy and William Franklin, a schoolboy, born 1905 in Coalville. Frederic’s younger brother Clifford Ernest also fell. Frederic was a Freemason, belonging to the Grace Dieu Lodge, No 2428. He was initiated on the 9th November 1916. In 1917 Frederic was awarded the Military Cross. The announcement appeared in the London Gazette on the 17th July. “For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. Although badly shaken by a bursting shell, he collected thirty men and dug himself in, in a forward position, holding it under heavy fire for a day and a night. He was wounded, but refused attention until he had withdrawn his party.”
Frederic’s father Walter Scott was the Station Master at Blaby and shortly after his youngest son Clifford’s birth he obtained the same position at Coalville East Railway Station. Clifford was the last of four sons, and his mother tragically died in the year he was born. His father was in the fraught situation of struggling to maintain his job, and looking after four young boys, after a while he fortunately remarried Elizabeth Franklin, and from this relationship two further sons were born. Frederic was educated at Ashby de la Zouch Grammar School, and subsequently held a post of pupil teacher at Coalville’s Bridge Road School. He continued with his education at Cambridge University, and joined the University’s Officer Training Corps at Mytchett in Surrey in August 1914. He eventually served as Captain in the 6th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment, being wounded at least twice, and was awarded the Military Cross. He died in 1918 at the hands of the Germans as a Prisoner of War.
The War Diary records: 27 May-18 - CHALONS VERGEUR. 1.00am Enemy commenced heavy bombardment with gas and high explosive on D Camp. The Battalion fell in at 12.45pm and moved to dugouts and shelters in vicinity of camp as soon as bombardment commenced. “A” Company under Captain SCOTT M.C. had -?- move up to the TENAILLE DE GUISE east of CORMICY on the night of the 26th and arrived in position at midnight. 3.00am Gas shelling ceased but concentrations of gas did not clear until 5.00am. 4.00am TENAILLE DE GUISE heavily bombarded until 5.00am. 7.30am. “B” Company (Captain SCHOLES) moved forward to Brigade Headquarters in BOIS-DE-LA-MONTAGNE and proceeded thence to TRENCH DE ESTERNEY with right on OUVRAGE-DU-NORD and left on HIRSCH WOOD. 9.00am “D” Company and Battalion Headquarters moved forward to Brigade Headquarters. “A” Company heavily attacked in TENAILLE DE GUISE but attack was beaten off by rifle and machine gun fire. 11.30am “C” Company (Lt. STEVENS) moved forward and rejoined remainder of Battalion in vicinity of 110th Brigade Headquarters in BOIS-DE-MONTAGNE. 12.00 noon. TRENAILLE DE GUISE again heavily attacked. Enemy were repulsed frontally but succeeded in attacking posts on the right and left flanks which eventually forced the remnants of “A” Company under Lt. VERNALL to withdraw to TRENCH de ESTERNEY in front of CAUROY-CORMICY ROAD. 2.00pm Battalion Headquarters moved to the TUILLERIE. “D” Company moved up to position near BOYAN DE GUISE extending right and left in front of CAUROY-CORMICY ROAD. Touch was gained with “B” Company on right but touch could not be obtained with “A” Company on left. Consequently there was a gap of over 1000 yards on the left. 2.30pm “C” Company ordered forward to fill gap between “A” and “D” Companies keeping 1 platoon in reserve at Battalion Headquarters. Touch was obtained with “D” Company on right and 1 platoon deducted to form a defensive flank facing CORMICY. Repeated attempts were made to establish touch with troops holding CORMICY. 4.00pm Enemy attacked the TRENCH DU ESTERNEY from HIRSCH to CAUROY. Attack was brought to a standstill by rifle and machine gun fire from about 150 yards from ESTERNEY. 5.00pm Under cover of dead ground the enemy succeeded in establishing a footing in HIRSCH WOOD on the right flank of “D” Company. He attacked repeatedly from this direction between 5.00 and 7.00pm but was repulsed each time with heavy losses. 7.00pm Reinforced by Trench Mortars, enemy proceeded in breaking the line of the right flank of “D” Company. Blocks were immediately established in the trenches and the enemy held up -?-. 7.30pm Enemy threatening the left flank of “C” Company from direction of CORMICY. 8.00pm Enemy working round the left rear of “C” Company and firing into them from -?-. Owing to situation on right flank of “D” Company. “B” Company formed a defensive flank along the BOYAN DU CHATILLON. 10.00pm Enemy continued to work round flanks of “B” and “D” Companies in small parties under cover of darkness. Orders received from Brigade (GC 547 attached) to withdraw to the line ST. AUBOEUF-ROUCY RIDGE covered by rear guard. Withdrawal to commence at 10.00pm. 11.00pm Companies ordered to withdraw and assemble at old Battalion Headquarters in BOIS MONTAGNE, “C” and “D” Companies had considerable difficulty in extricating themselves but managed to withdraw fighting a rear guard action.
The War Diary records: 31 May-18 - Battalion marched to ETRECHY and billeted for the night. Casualties for the period May 1st to May 31st 1918:- Officers Lt. Col E. S. CHANCE killed in action, Lt. A. H PICKARD, Lt. G. B. E. -?-, 2nd Lt. W. R. EVERITT, 2nd Lt. C. PEGG, 2nd Lt. A. A. SCALES wounded in action, Captain F. SCOTT M.C., Lt. W. T. STEVENS, 2nd Lt. A. J. CLARK, 2nd Lt. C. N. MARTIN, 2nd Lt. W. A. BAGULEY, missing. Other ranks 21 killed, 99 wounded, 1 gassed, 154 missing, 3 missing believed wounded. Total 11 officers and 278 other ranks.
A report in the Coalville Times of the 20th November 1918 recorded that Lieutenant Walter Handford had sent a letter to his wife. Its contents explained that he was captured at the same time as Captain Frederic Scott, and that the latter had been killed after being taken prisoner. The same newspaper on the 10th January 1919 announced the welcome return of Walter Handford after his German imprisonment. It also stated that Mr W. V. Scott, Station Master of Coalville’s London and North Western Railway Station had received a letter from another soldier, who witnessed the burial of his son whilst under German guard, after he’d been shot. The brave Captain was the town’s first soldier to receive the Military Cross. His younger brother Clifford also fell.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday January 14th, 1916

COALVILLE OFFICER WOUNDED

2ND LIEUT. F. SCOTT

Mr W. V. Scott, L and N. W. R. station-master at Coalville East, has received intimation that his son, Lieut. F. Scott, was wounded in action on Boxing Day and is now in a London hospital. Lieut. Scott was superintending work for supporting the sides of the trench, when the enemy opened fire and a bullet, after striking an iron object in use in the work, caught the officer in the left eye. An operation was performed at Rouen hospital, before Lieut. Scott was moved to England, and though it was a nasty wound, it is hoped that the sight of the eye will be saved.

The wounded officer went to the front in July last year and was this week to have come home on leave. Before the war he was at Cambridge University studying for the teaching profession and had then been in the Officer’s Training Corps at Cambridge for 18 months.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 21st, 1916

LIEUT. SCOTT AGAIN WOUNDED

We regret to learn that Lieutenant F. Scott, of the Leicestershire Regiment, has again been wounded. His father, Mr W. V. Scott, L and N.W. stationmaster, at Coalville East, on Tuesday morning, received a telegram from the War Office, notifying the fact, but prior to that a letter had been received from the wounded officer stating that he was once again in hospital at Manchester. Happily, the wound, which is in his right arm, is not a serious one. Lieutenant Scott had only been back at the Front about a month after recovering from previous weeks.

Coalville Times article - Friday July 27th, 1917

COALVILLE OFFICER’S BRAVERY - DEED WHICH WON HIM THE MILITARY CROSS

As announced a short time ago, Captain F. Scott, of the Leicestershire Regiment, was the first Coalville officer to win the Military Cross. The official account of the deed which gained for him this honour has just been published, and runs as follows.

“For conspicuous gallantry during an attack. Although badly shaken by a bursting shell, he collected 30 men and dug himself in, in a forward position, holding it under heavy fire for a day and night. He was wounded, but refused attention until he had withdrawn his party.”

At this time, the gallant officer was acting in the capacity of temporary lieutenant. He has since been promoted to a captaincy. He is one of the three soldier sons (one killed in action) of Mr W. V. Scott, L and N.W. Stationmaster at Coalville, the popular Superintendent of the Coalville Ambulance Brigade, and one of the commandants of the Coalville V.A.D.

Coalville Times article - Friday June 14th, 1918

COALVILLE OFFICERS’ TAKEN PRISONERS

News was received at Coalville on Sunday that Captain F. Scott, and 2nd Lieutenant W. Handford, two Coalville officers of the Leicestershire Regiment, had been taken prisoners of war. Both had previously been reported missing.

A letter received from a brother officer of Captain Scott says that he was magnificently leading his men, when they were surrounded by the Germans. Captain Scott is the son of Mr W. V. Scott, L. & N.W. stationmaster, at Coalville, another of whose sons has been killed in the war. The gallant officer has been in the war almost from the commencement, and has been wounded three times. He was the first Coalville officer to win the Military Cross.

Lieutenant Handford, who was with Captain Scott, was formerly a well-known musician in the Coalville district, and was the organist at the Ashby Parish Church. When at home on leave recently, he was married to Miss Nellie Chambers, daughter of Mr and Mrs T. Chambers of Belvoir Road, Coalville, and his widowed mother resides in Highfields Street.

Coalville Times article - Friday November 29th, 1918

THE FATE OF CAPT. F. SCOTT

KILLED AFTER BEING TAKEN PRISONER

News is to hand that Capt. Frederick Scott, of the Leicestershire Regiment, third son of Mr W. V. Scott, L. and N.W.R. Station master, Coalville, was killed by the Germans after being taken prisoner. He was captured last May after putting up a very gallant fight, and since then Mr Scott has made many enquiries without getting any very definite information.

Now, however, a letter has been received by the late wife of Lieutenant Walter Handford, who was taken prisoner at the same time, stating that Captain Scott was shot and killed by the Germans. He adds that “this is conclusive."

Captain Scott was 25 years of age, and was the first Coalville officer to win the M.C. When war broke out he was studying at Cambridge University and joined up almost immediately. Having been in the University O.T.C., he was soon given a commission, and he took part in a good deal of the fighting, having been three times wounded. He was an old Ashby Grammar School boy, and is the second son that Mr Scott has lost in the war, Private Clifford Scott having been killed in action some time ago.

Lieutenant Walter Handford is a son of Mrs Handford, widow, of Highfields Street, Coalville, and before the war was organist at the Ashby Parish Church. Now that fighting has ended and prisoners are returning, it is anticipated that he may be home shortly and will be able to throw more light on the circumstances in which Captain Scott met his death.

Coalville Times article - Friday January 10th, 1919

COALVILLE OFFICER HOME AGAIN

LIEUT. W. HANDFORD’S RETURN FROM GERMANY

Second-Lieutenant Walter Handford, of the 8th Leicesters, who was taken prisoner by the Germans on May 27th last, has reached home. His widowed mother and wife reside at Highfields Street, Coalville. Before the war, Lieut. Handford was well-known in the musical circles of the district, being organist of the Ashby Parish Church. He was taken prisoner on the same day that Captain F. Scott, another Coalville soldier in the same regiment, was killed. Unfortunately, there seems to be no doubt now about Captain Scott’s death. For a long time his father, Mr W. V. Scott, L and N.W. station master, Coalville, was unable to obtain any definite news, but he has now received a letter from a soldier who states that he was present at the burial of Captain Scott, under a German guard. Captain Scott was the first officer from the Coalville district to win the M.C.

Coalville Times article - Friday February 7th, 1919

HOW CAPT. F. SCOTT WAS KILLED

Various reports have been received from time to time concerning the fate of Capt. F. Scott of the Leicestershire Regiment, the first Coalville officer to win the Military Cross, but his father, Mr W. V. Scott, L and N.W. Stationmaster at Coalville, has now been in communication with a captain of the same regiment, who was taken prisoner, and has recently returned from Germany, and from his statements the matter is placed beyond doubt.

This officer states that they had been fighting hard for 14 hours, and as they were losing heavily they held a consultation as to the course to pursue. While they were considering the position, Captain Scott was shot through the head, and fell dead into his brother officer’s arms. Almost immediately, the Germans swarmed the trench and the survivors were all taken prisoner. He did not know what became of Captain Scott’s body. In regard to the latter, however, Mr Scott has heard from a Welsh soldier who says that he was present at the burial of the gallant officer.

Mr Scott is reporting these facts to the War Office. Up to the present, the name of Capt. Scott has not appeared in the official casualty list.

Research undertaken and submitted (including photographs from Coalville Times) by Andy Murby 11/10/2017