Dawlish World War One Project

Walter enlisted with ‘B’ Corps of the 17th Division, King’s Royal Rifle Corps on the 24th October 1915, and his address was given as Forest Grange, Nr Kirby Muxloe, Leicester.

He married Lilian Annie Hinch (1892- ) on 1st January 1916 at St Mark’s Church, Swindon. She had been working (1911) as a nursemaid at Forest Grange, Hinkley Road, Kirkby Muxloe.

It appears that they set up home at 22 Gloucester Street, Swindon, for Walter’s possessions of a watch(broken) and a cigarette case were sent to his widow at that address. She received a widow’s pension of 13s. 9d. , a death grant of £3. 4s. 4d. and a War Gratuity of £7. 0s. 0d.

(photo portrait on Ancestry: Hellyer Family Tree)
Walter is recorded as Killed in Action and the report in the Dawlish Gazette reveals the circumstances (see Documents, below). His father died earlier in 1917.

Walter Henry Scott appears at 11 months old on the 1891 census as the youngest child of Henry (Henry William Scott 1852 – 1917) and Susan (Susan Gidley 1849 – 1935) Scott at Rectory Cottage, Mamhead where Walter was born. A younger brother, Harry Reginald Scott, was born later in the year and was also a casualty (q.v.).

Henry W Scott married Susan Gidley in St Thomas District in Q2, 1874 ( vol 5b, p 94). Henry had been born in Tedburn St Mary and was a gardener.

They had ten children of which two had died by the 1911 census. They were Alice Maud (1876- ), Harriett Susan (1877-1958), Charles Eli (1880 - ), all born in Clyst St Mary, Ada (1882- ), Annie (1884- ), Ethel (1885- ), Hilda (1888- ), Walter Henry (1890-1917), Harry Reginald (1892-1918) – also a casualty of WW1 (q.v.).
By 1911 the family had moved to Park Cottage, Strand Hill, Dawlish and Walter Henry Scott was 20 and the only child living at home, working as a gardener(market). At that time there were eight children of the marriage alive.