Medals from the Rob Campbell Collection relating to Clevedon, Somerset On the receiving end for once
At the end of the month, Scott and his Observer had a lucky escape:
‘24 April 1916. On nearing Roulers, we saw several enemy machines making wide circles round the Reconnaissance and Escort, evidently endeavouring to get behind it. On our way back from Roulers, we were attacked by a Fokker Monoplane from behind. We turned, fired one drum at him and he went slowly down.
On turning again to rejoin the rest of the Escort, a Rumpler Biplane dived on us from above and as we had not got another drum on to our gun, we had to dive steeply to avoid his fire. After desultory fighting with this and several other machines, we fired two red lights when the remainder of the Escort came to our assistance, diving over us and driving off the attackers.
We then tried to get into our position in the Reconnaissance formation, but a hostile machine high up above on our N.W. side made such accurate shooting on us that it was only by side-slipping and switch-backing furiously we were able to avoid being brought down. As it was, the machine was badly shot about. In all seven drums were fired and we eventually crossed the lines at 6,000ft, having lost 3,000ft in the fighting.’
Scott continued to fly with the Squadron throughout the next few months, and was involved in many inconclusive combats. The latter is illustrated by his combat report for 14 July 1916:
‘While on escort to bombing raid on Westroosebeke a “Fokker” was noticed pursuing B.E.2c’s just above the clouds at a height of about 7,500 feet. A spiral was made down to 8,000 feet, and fire was opened by the F.E.
At the end of a drum the Fokker put his nose down steeply and disappeared through the clouds, with smoke coming out of his engine.
On three other occasions similar attacks were made on Fokkers, each of which had the effect of making the hostile machine relinquish his pursuit of the B.E.2c’s and go down through the clouds.’
Scott subsequently advanced to Captain, and was posted as ‘A’ Flight Commander to 83 Squadron (F.E. 2b’s), Auchel, France in March 1918. The Squadron was employed on night reconnaissance and night bombing duties for the rest of the war. Scott carried out bombing raids on targets such as Bapaume, Armentieres and Cambrai Railway Station.
North West Frontier - a lucky escape
Scott continued to serve after the war, and represented the R.A.F. at Rugby in 1920. He served as a flight commander with 27 Squadron on the North West Frontier of India in 1922:
‘On January 12, 1922 five Ninaks of 27 accompanied four DH 10s of 60 on a bombing raid against Dhatta Khel, north of Dardoni where hill raiders had taken refuge after ambushing an Army column, causing heavy casualties, in the Spinchilla Pass of North Waziristan. The full story of this particular raid reflects the difficulties of aircraft serviceability and the flying conditions of the period. Leading the formation was Sqn. Ldr. Sherren (60) at the head of a diamond formation of DH 10s flown by Fg. Off. Hamersley (No.2), Fg. Off. Chick (No. 3) and Fg. Off. George in “the box”. Behind them came 27’s Ninaks led by Flt. Lt. Grenfell (A Flt) with Fg. Off. J. Oliver at No. 2 position, Fg. Off. Waters at No. 3, Flt. Lt. Scott (B Flt. Cmdr.) at 4 and Fg. Off. Lewin (A Flt). Immediately after take-off, Waters and Chick developed ignition trouble and landed again, Waters crashing in the process although without injury to the crew. Just after passing Kohat en route Hamersley experienced an oil leakage and turned his DH 10 for home, while Grenfell, after passing over Bannu, fired a green Very light to indicate engine trouble and turned back to Bannu. A second DH 10 also left at this point.
With some fifty miles still to go, the bombers were reduced to four, three Ninaks and a DH 10. These reached Dhatta Khel at 3.45pm after two and a quarter hours flying and located the target area in a hollow, surrounded by 5,000 ft high mountains. Bombing commenced from 1,500 ft with the leader (John Oliver) releasing one 112lb and a 20lb on the centre of the canvas-tented camp of the rebels. He also released a 230lb but this failed to explode. With the raid completed, all four crews set course for Kohat, at that time an emergency landing ground only, where they intended to spend the night.
Oliver then noticed that Scott’s 230lb had failed to release a “hang up”. Having been duly warned by hand signals of his unwanted “lodger”, Scott landed very delicately at Kohat without unsticking the bomb. During ground inspection however, he discovered a leaking radiator which delayed his departure the following day.’ (The flying Elephants refers)
Scott advanced to Squadron Leader in July 1927, and took over the command of the Air Training Section of the Armament and Gunnery School at Eastchurch, in September of the same year. He was posted to the command of 29 Squadron (Siskins), North Weald, in December 1929. Scott transferred to a post at R.A.F. Cranwell in July 1930, and was still serving there when he took part in the handicap race at the R.A.F. display at Hendon in 1933.
Scott was posted to 203 (Flying Boat) Squadron, Basra, Iraq, in October 1933, and served at the Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment, Felixstowe, from February 1936. He was posted to Headquarters No. 3 (Bomber) Group for Intelligence Duties in April 1938, before being posted in a similar capacity for service with No. 1 (Bomber) Group in France, in August 1939.
Scott retired as Wing Commander in 1944, and in later life resided at Hillbrow, Farnborough Hill. He suffered from depression and shot himself with his Great War service revolver in May 1951.
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