Thank you to the Friends of St. Margaret for allowing us to reproduce their research. Thank you to Brian Bouchards for additional detail.
Ralph had been born in Erdington, Salop near Birmingham. The birth was registered in Bridgenorth in September 1884. He was the son of Tom and Mary J S Scott from South Australia. His father was a farmer who came into occupation of The Goldings, Abinger, Surrey, by 1891.
He appears to have been educated at Bradfield College (then St. Andrew’s College) in the village of Bradfield, Berkshire. Ralph left school in 1901 to take up a commission as 2nd Lieutenant in the 3rd East Surrey Regiment and became a full Lieutenant during 1904. Having risen to the rank of Captain, 12 December 1907, he resigned his commission on 4 August 1909 before migrating to Australia.
On 21st March 1914, the engagement was announced of Blanche Dallas, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. John Western, Peachgrove, Marion,S.A., and. Capt. Ralph Quintus Scott, of Adelaide, youngest son of Tom Scott, Farm Place, Ockley, Surrey, England. The couple married at Holy Trinity, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 26 August 1914, and a son, Peter Tom Scott, resulted from their union.
The Journal, Adelaide, SA, 21 April 1917 reported: –
“LATE CAPT. R. Q. SCOTT.
The many friends of Capt. Ralph Quintus Scott, will regret to hear of his death at the front. A private cablegram seat to Peachgrove, Marion, S.A., the home of his wife’s parents, was received during the past week, stating that he had been killed in action in France on April 16. Being an Englishman, he entered the 3rd East Surrey Regiment as a lieutenant when 17 years of age. He was eventually promoted to the rank of captain, and retired from the army to come to Australia, where he bought an estate at Nuriootpa, in this state. He left with his wife last July for England, and rejoined his regiment with the rank of lieutenant and shortly afterwards was training troops at Dover. In November five officers were asked for the 20th Royal Fusiliers, and he immediately responded. He was a favourite with every one, a brave, fearless, cheerful, and large-hearted officer, and will be sadly missed. In August, 1914, he married Blanche, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Western, of Marion, South Australia, in whose care she left her little son. Shortly before the death of her husband Mrs. Scott left England for Australia, and has yet to learn the sad news.”
On the 16th April 1917, 20th Royal Fusiliers were attacking Concrete Trench north of the Hindenburg Line (To their right in the Hindenburg Line Siegfried Sassoon had been leading a bombing attack during which he was wounded). The 20th Royal Fusiliers suffered heavy casualties and were unable to enter Concrete Trench.
Lieutenant SCOTT, R Q, 3rd Bn. East Surrey Regiment, attd. 20th Bn. Royal Fusiliers died on the 16th April 1917, was interred in Plot II. A. 3. of Heninel-Croisilles Road Cemetery.
He is commemorated on the following Australian Memorials:
Adelaide Holy Trinity Church Honour Board WW1, Angaston District Honour Board WWI, & Nuriootpa Honour Board WWI.
| Born | Erdington, Warwickshire | |
| Son of | Tom and Mary J. S. Scott | |
| Husband of | Blanche Dallas of Marion, South Australia | |
| Regiment | 3rd Battalion. East Surrey Regiment. Attached 20th Battalion. Royal Fusiliers | |
| Date of Death | 16th April 1917 | |
| Place of Death | Heninel, France | |
| Cause of Death | Killed in action | |
| Age | 33 | |
| Cemetery | Heninel-Criselles Road Cemetery, Pas de Calais, II A 3 |
