Scott, John William, Croix de Guerre, MID (Lieutenant, b.1888 - d.1966)

Telegrams and original letters from Lieutenant John (Jack) William Scott, CdeG, Palm, MID (No.2264), May 1915 to October 1919 to Margaret (Meg or Birdie) Heaslip Green of Dungog, NSW [folders 1-17]. Commence with Lt Scott's enlistment and his experiences at the Military Camp, Liverpool, Sydney before travelling to Melbourne to attend the Signallers' School, Broadmeadows, Melbourne. Describe his return to the Liverpool camp and subsequent voyage aboard the "SS Argyllshire" to Egypt in September 1915 as a signaller in 4th Reinforcements, 18 Battalion later based at Zeitoun Camp and Heliopolis Camp, Cairo and Polygon Camp, Abbassia. Follows Lt Scott on transfer in June 1916 to the 110th Howitzer Battery, 10th Brigade, 4th Division serving on the Western Front. Here he is wounded, and hospitalised twice (once for trench fever) and is awarded the Croix de Guerre and is Mentioned in Despatches. Following an Officer Training Course at Preston Barracks, Brighton he receives his commission in 1919 remaining in France at the end of the war with the 41st Battalion for demobilization purposes. Lt Scott returns to Australia, and to Meg, aboard the "SS Euripides" in October 1919. The letters record this soldier's reaction to all that he experienced during the WWI, in particular his signalling training; concern for his enlisted younger brothers, Pte William (Will or Saddler) Henry Scott (No.4559) and Pte Edwin (Ted) James Scott (No.3416); his friends, especially Lt George Black Oliver MM (No.3223), Pte George Strahan (No.2263) and Sgt Dick Walton MM; his feelings for Meg and his interest in her life and and the town of Dungog; the frustrations and loneliness he experiences; the 1916 Referendum on Conscription and the devastation caused by war and the impact it has had on him. Also in the collection are original letters from Lt Scott to Eileen Mayo Green, sister of Meg Green; from Cpl. Richard (Dick) Stanley Mayo (No.162) and Pte William Burns Mayo (No.4811) to their cousin, Eileen Green; from Chaplain B.C. Wilson to Mrs Margaret Mayo following the death of her son, Cpl Richard S. Mayo and from Mrs Margaret Mayo to Walter Green, uncle to the late Cpl R. Mayo [folder 18]. Miscellaneous papers include an official paper documenting Lt Scott's recommendation for the Croix de Guerre, 1918 and an original notebook of Lt J.W. Scott from Officer's Training School, 1918. There is a typescript transcript with photocopies of the above material entitled "Letters from WW1" with background paper on Lt Scott by his daugher, Patricia Smith and a summary of movements for the 4th Division and index [folder 22]. Thirty-five reproduced photographs highlighting many of the people mentioned in the letters at [folders 23-24]. See also AWM photograph collection.