SCOTT, ROBERT GEORGE, Major, served
in the South African War of 1877-79; in the Gaika and Gaeleka Campaigns, and
was present at the attack on Moirosi's Mountain, when he was severely
wounded. He received the Medal and clasp, and was awarded the Victoria
Cross. In the South African War of 1899-1902, he served in the operations
in Cape Colony, the Transvaal and the Orange Free State; received the
Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27
September 1901]: "R G Scott, VC, Major, Kimberley Light Horse. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa".
His
death was reported in 'The Cape
Times' of 4 October 1918:
DEATH OF COLONEL SCOTT, VC, DSO
The death occurred at Mount Curtis,
Wynberg, yesterday, of Colonel Robert George Scott, VC, DSO, at the age of
60. Deceased served during the Gaeleka, Gaika and Moirosi Campaigns,
1877-78-79 (VC), and between 1899 and 1901 he was Lieutenant Colonel of the
Kimberley Light Horse, and had command of Scott's Railway Guards (which he
raised) and the Cape Railway Sharpshooters. He was present during the siege
of Kimberley, was mentioned in Despatches, and awarded the DSO in 1900. The
funeral will take place at Plumstead Cemetery at 4.45 this afternoon.
'South Africa' of 26 October 1918
reported:
THE LATE LIEUTENANT-COLONEL SCOTT,
VC, DSO
Lieutenant Colonel Robert George
Scott, VC, DSO, Cape Colonial Forces and late Cape Mounted Rifles, was born
in 1857, and was a son of Fleet-Surgeon R C Scott, RN. Colonel Scott
served in the Kaffir War of 1877-79, and the South African War of 1900-2,
being mentioned in Despatches for meritorious conduct in the latter,
receiving the Queen's Medal and three clasps, as well as the King's Medal
and two clasps, and the DSO. In 1879, when serving as Sergeant, he
received the Victoria Cross for conspicuous gallantry and devotion during an
attack on Moirosi's Mountain. He volunteered to throw time-fuse shells as
hand-grenades, over a line of stone barricades from behind which the enemy
were bringing a heavy fire to bear on the Colonial troops, which it was
impossible effectually to return. After causing all the men of his party to
seek cover lest the shell should burst prematurely—by which precaution many
lives were, in all probability, saved—Sergeant Scott advanced under heavy
fire, and reaching the wall, made two attempts to throw shells across to the
other side. In consequence of some defect in the fuse, which had been
ignited before casting, the shell exploded at the second attempt. His right
hand was blown to pieces, and he was severely wounded in the left leg,
suffering also minor wounds on the body and limbs. His escape from death
was miraculous, but he recovered, and lived until 3 October last, when he
died at Cape Town.
Major the Marquess of Ailesbury
wrote the following:
"I well remember a day towards the
end of March 1900. Having ridden out from Kimberley to join a yeomanry
battalion to which I had been posted, I chanced, in the course of my
wanderings, to bump into the Staff of the GOC. A more
depressed-looking lot I never saw. With their Chief sitting on a chair
reading a book, they stood round conversing in whispers. On asking where I
might find my unit, they took council together and then whispered that they
didn't know. I felt as if I was intruding on a funeral. At that moment
came up an active-looking, wiry, one-armed man in his shirt-sleeves.
Addressing me as if he, at least, was not ashamed of the sound of his own
voice, he demanded my wants, led me to the top of a small neighbouring
kopje, and pointed out the camp of my people about half a mile away. It was
long afterwards I learnt that this was Scott, but I knew on the moment that
I had met a good soldier, and it was no surprise to me to hear that his
services on that Staff were rewarded with the DSO".
One of Colonel Scott's sons said
"Robert George Scott, Lieutenant Colonel, was born 22 April 1857, son of
Fleet-Surgeon R C Scott, RN, and Mary Elizabeth, daughter of the Reverend
Richard Sinclair, Vicar of Cashel. He was educated at Epsom College and
Burney's. Being of an adventurous spirit, he went to South Africa, and
found service after his heart's desire in the now extinct border regiment,
the Cape Mounted Rifles. He served in the Kaffir Wars of 1877-79, and was
awarded the Victoria Cross for an act of most self-sacrificing devotion.
Scott undertook to throw time-fuse shells as hand-grenades over a wall
against the Basutos. The exploit was a most perilous one, and Scott knew
it; he directed his men to fall back under cover, and then climbed up a
steep wall of rock, at the top of which the Basutos were lying in wait
behind a barricade of stones. During the whole operation he was under a
heavy fire. He then endeavoured to toss the shell over the barricade; the
first time he failed; he tried again, and the very thing happened which he
had feared when he directed his men to fall back. He had scarcely lighted
the fuse when the shell exploded in his hand; one piece entering the left
leg, wounding him very severely, and the right hand was shattered to
pieces. In addition the explosion of the shell, which was filled with black
powder, set alight to his clothing, so that in addition to his wounds he had
to suffer the agonies of burning. His men rushed forward to rescue him from
this perilous position, but with perfect calm and magnificent self-control
he ordered them back again; then, by rolling over, he managed to reach the
edge of the wall of rock and dropped over—a vertical drop of about 25 feet.
During all that day he refused to let his men carry him back to the main
camp, as it would have been a dangerous operation attempting to cross the
intervening open country in daylight. He took distinguished part in the
South African War, 1900-2, being in command of the Kimberley Light Horse
during the siege of Kimberley, after which he raised and commanded Scott's
Railway Guards and Cape Railway Sharpshooters, which kept the railway open
from De Aar to Mafeking and enabled supplies to come through regularly. He
was mentioned in Despatches, awarded the Queen's Medal with three clasps,
the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Robert
George Scott, Lieutenant Colonel, Kimberley Light Horse. In recognition of
services during the operations in South Africa". At the outbreak of World
War Lieutenant Colonel Scott, though in a precarious state of health, again
volunteered his services, which were gladly accepted by the authorities.
During the Rebellion he raised and commanded the Kimberley Central Commando,
and in spite of the very grave condition of his health, he led his Commando
through the region of the Kalahari, and took part in the engagement at
Uppington. The hardships entailed by this campaign accentuated his illness,
and he died on the 3rd of October 1918. His one great regret was that he
was unable to take a larger part in the war. Lieutenant Colonel Scott had
married, in 1885, Constance, daughter of Lieutenant Colonel C A Daniell;
they had three sons: John Daynell Sinclair, Robert Falkiner Sinclair and Guy
Sinclair; and one daughter, Dulcie Mary. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the
Cape Colonial Forces.
