Private John Scott

Private John Sheriff Scott, Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry ( Eastern Ontario Regiment ). He was killed in action in Belgium on 8th May 1915, aged 23 during the Battle of Second Ypres. He was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Scott of 7 Church Street, Berwick and is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Flanders, Belgium. He had been born in Kelso in January 1882 and served six years in the Kings Own Scottish Borderers as a Regular Soldier. He then emigrated to Canada where he was employed as a bridge builder. He enlisted in November 1914 in the 23rd Battalion before being transferred to a Princess Pats ( as they were known ) reinforcement draft in January 1915. He fell in the the desperate defensive action at Bellewaarde Ridge  where the Battalion repulsed attack after attack until relieved by the Kings Royal Rifle Brigade at 11.30 that night. Casualties were heavy 4 Officers and 108 Other Ranks were killed and 6 Officers and 197 Other Ranks were wounded. In addition 77 Other Ranks were posted missing and there were 17 Prisoners of War. The artist’s illustration tries to depict the magnificent Canadian defence against overwhelming odds.