b. 22/04/1857 Peterborough, Cambridgeshire. d. 03/10/1918 Wynberg, South Africa.
Robert George Scott (1857-1918) was born at Whittlesea, near Peterborough, Cambridgeshire on 22nd April 1857. He was the son of Robert Charles Scott, a Fleet Surgeon in the Royal Navy, and of Mary Elizabeth, the daughter of Reverend Richard Sinclair. He was educated at Epsom College and Aberdeen Grammar School, and joined the Cape Mounted Rifles on 26th September 1876, at the age of 19.
Robert G Scott VC DSO
He served as a Cape Mounted Rifleman throughout 1876-1879, in the regular South African forces, but afterwards always as a volunteer, and raised corps as required. He served in the Zulu War, receiving the campaign medal, and would be awarded the Victoria Cross (London Gazette, 1st October 1880) for his actions on Morosi’s Mountain.
On 8th April 1879, during the assault on Morosi’s Mountain, Sergeant Scott volunteered for the task of throwing time-fuse shells as hand grenades over a stone wall from behind which the enemy was bringing heavy artillery fire to bear onto the colonial troops. Scott ordered his men to take cover in case any of the shells burst prematurely before making two attempts to throw shells over it. At the second attempt the shell exploded almost in his hands, blowing his right hand to pieces and wounding him severely in the leg.
Scott recovered from his wounds, and was presented with his VC by Queen Victoria at Windsor Castle on 17th December 1880. He then returned to South Africa where on 8th April 1884 in Kimberley, he married Constance Mary, daughter of the late Lieutenant-Colonel Daniell, and they went on to have four children. Scott was promoted to Major and later served in the Boer War of 1899-1902 with the Kimberley Light Horse, and was mentioned in despatches. He also received the Queen’s Medal with three clasps, the King’s Medal with two clasps, and was also awarded the DSO (London Gazette, 27th September 1901).
In the First World War, the now Lieutenant-Colonel Scott commanded the Kimberley Commandos on the borders of German South West Africa during the Cape Rebellion, and later commanded the Veteran Regiment. Scott died on 3rd October 1918, aged 61 near Wynberg in the Cape Province. He was buried in Plumstead Cemetery, Wynberg. He is also named on his two son’s graves in Kensington Cemetery in London. His medals are not publicly held.
LOCATION OF MEDAL: NOT PUBLICLY HELD.
BURIAL PLACE: PLUMSTEAD CEMETERY, WYNBERG, CAPE TOWN, SOUTH AFRICA.
ALLOTMENT EA, GRAVE 88
