TOPIC:

Picture courtesy of Spink

East and West Africa 1887 (1) (Lieut. L. F. Scott. N. Nigeria R.);
QSA (4) Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Transvaal (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxford. L.I.), rank corrected;
KSA (2) (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxford L.I.);
1914-15 Star (Capt. L. F. Scott. Oxf. & Bucks. L.I.);
British War and Victory Medals (Capt. L. F. Scott.)

Lionel Folliott Scott was born at Arlesley, Bedfordshire, on 23 October 1870 the son of the Reverend Richard Scott of Bennett's Farm, Arlesley and his wife Emily. He attended Repton School and joined the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. From there he was commissioned Lieutenant on 26 April 1893 with the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

Advanced Lieutenant with them in 1897, he saw service with the West African Field Force in the Lagos Hinterland. In the aftermath of prolonged wars between the mainland Yoruba states, the Lagos Colony established a protectorate over most of Yorubaland between 1890 and 1897. Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centred on the port of Lagos in what is now Southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed in August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862.

Sir George Chardin Denton KCMG, Colonial Secretary of Lagos and in 1900 was appointed Governor and Commander-in-Chief, who was in office from 1900 until 1911. Scott was appointed his Aide-de-Camp, attached to the North Nigeria Regiment for a period between 1897-8.

Returning to his Regiment he saw service with the 1st Battalion Oxfordshire Light Infantry throughout the Second Boer War. As a Special Service Officer he served in the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February-May 1900, including service at Paardeberg; Poplar Grove and Driefontein; and operations in the Orange River Colony, May 1900-May 1902.

An article in the Bucks Herald on 24 November 1900 states:

'Lieutenant Lionel Scott has been promoted to the rank of Captain in the Oxfordshire Light Infantry, in succession to Major Fairtlough, who is Adjutant of the Bucks Militia Battalion. Captain Scott commenced his career in the old West Suffolk Militia, and has for some time past been employed in South Africa as a Special Service Officer.'

Still in Africa after the war he was appointed ADC to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gambia in 1902, serving there until 1906. His replacement in the role was a man by the name of Edward Kirkpatrick whom Scott befriended, he was later to marry his sister Florence.

Becoming the Adjutant of the Special Reserve Battalion in 1908 Scott served in that role for some time before retiring in October 1912. He joined the Reserve of Officers and as such was recalled to service in the Great War, being placed in command of 'D' Company, 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 13 December 1914.

Initially serving as Railway Transport Officer in Britian he later entered the France on 7 December 1915. Tragically his brother-in-law Captain Kirkpatrick was killed in action in 1915. Scott served at the front until February 1917, being appointed Regimental Transport Officer alongside his other duties. He returned to Britian and served as a Major in the Labour Corps. He died at Quarry House, Headington, Oxford on 7 January 1941.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (2) Relief of Kimberley, Orange Free State (83 Pte. W. Boon, Oxford: Lt. Inft.)

William Boon died of enteric fever at Bloemfontein on 20 June 1900.

Picture courtesy of Noonan's

QSA (3) Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1902 (4799 Serjt. E. Betts. Oxford: L.I.)

Ernest Betts was born at Ashenden, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, in 1876 and attested for the Oxfordshire Light Infantry at Aylesbury on 30 May 1894. He served with the 1st Battalion in India on the North West Frontier with the Tirah Expeditionary Force, and the Mohmand Field Force (entitled to the India General Service Medal 1895-1902 with clasps for Punjab Frontier 1897-98, and Tirah 1897-98). He saw further service in South Africa during the Boer War from 9 January to 15 October 1902, and was appointed Lance Sergeant on 9 February 1902. He was discharged on termination of his engagement on 29 May 1906.

Sold for a hammer price of GBP 90. Totals: GBP 116. R 2,540. AUD 220. NZD 240. CAD 200. USD 150. EUR 130.