| Scott | Douglas Alexander | | Captain | SCOTT, DOUGLAS ALEXANDER, Captain, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, was born 14 December 1848, at Boulogne, France; son of John Scott, MD (Edinburgh, London and Paris), and Alicia Lucy Murray, granddaughter of Admiral Sir George Murray, KCB. He was educated at Milton Abbas Grammar School, Blandford, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and was gazetted to the Royal Engineers as Lieutenant on 8 January 1870. After a period of home training he was ordered to India, when he entered the Railway Department, Public Works Department, and was selected to have charge of the Royal Train on Government Railways on the occasion of the visit of the Prince of Wales (subsequently King Edward VII) to India in the cold weather of 1875, for which Lieutenant Scott received the thanks of the Government of India. He was later appointed Consulting Engineer to the Government of India, for Guaranteed Railways, which post he retained until 1877. He was then appointed an Assistant Director of the State Railways, and in 1872 joined the Khyber Column in the Afghan War of 1878-79 (Medal). He returned to England in 1880; was promoted Captain 8 January 1882; was ordered to join the Egyptian Expedition in 1882, and was employed on the Railway Works; was mentioned in Despatches 2 November 1882; received the Brevet of Major 18 November 1882, the British Medal and the Khedive's Star. For some months previous to proceeding to Egypt he was employed on the Ordnance Survey of England. Towards the end of 1884, when the Nile Expedition was decided upon. Major Scott was ordered to Egypt. Shortly after his arrival he was appointed a DAAG and DQMG, and as Director of Military Railways he was responsible for laying the desert line of railway from Sarras to Ginniss, when the action against the Arabs was subsequently fought. In these operations he was mentioned in Despatches, and received the brevet rank of Lieutenant Colonel. Later on he was employed with the Frontier Field Force, being again mentioned in Despatches 25 August 1885, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 November 1886]: "For action at Ginniss, Douglas Alexander Scott, Captain and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Engineers". In July 1888, he got his regimental majority and was a full Colonel in 1889. In June 1894, he was appointed AAG, Royal Engineers at Headquarters, which appointment he held till June 1899. On leaving the War Office he was appointed Colonel on the Staff, CRE, Southern District, and commanded the Southern District during the absence of Lieutenant General Sir Baker Russell, GCB, at the time of the death of Her Majesty Queen Victoria. For his services during this period he was appointed CVO in March 1901. In September 1902, he was promoted a Major General, and made CRE, 2nd Army Corps, subsequently being made Chief Engineer, Southern Command. In December 1906, he received the appointment of Commander, Thames and Medway Defences, and retired from the Service in 1909. He was made a CB in 1897, on the occasion of Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. He was an FGS, and Honourable Colonel, Engineer and Railway Staff Corps. He married in 1894, Mary, daughter of Captain Cardew, of the Highland Light Infantry, and of the Honourable Mrs Cardew, daughter of 1st Baron Westbury, for some time Lord Chancellor of England. He had one son and two daughters. His favourite recreations were cycling, music and golf. Major General Scott died on 29 June 1918.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Engineers |
