The AIF Project

War service: wrote to Commander, Royal Park Training Camp, Melbourne, 2 December 1915: 'I have been advised to write to you to let you know I am not a deserter. I was in another camp in a few hours after I left Royal Park and my reasons for leaving are private & I do not wish to divulge them, & will write you again from Egypt to convince you I am not a deserter or had any intention of deserting as I was very anxious to do my share, having tried four times before I was accepted. I have the honor still to be yours obediently, Pte J.A. Scott. I was attached to D Coy 24 Batt.' He wrote again, 15 August 1916: 'On the 2nd December 15 I wrote you to convince you I was not a deserter from the army. In that letter I said I would write again from Egypt to further convince you. This I neglected until arrival here in England. I may say I was in Egypt 3 months so Sir I hope this will clear me from that cowardly thing desertion. When this reaches you I will be doing my bit in France along with my fellow Australians of which you are all so proud. Trusting this reaches you safely, I have still the honor to be, Your obedient servant, Pte J.A. Scott. I stated in my previous letter my reasons for leaving personal, & Sir they are still so.'

Embarked from Sydney, 11 May 1916; disembarked Egypt (date not recorded); disembarked Plymouth, England, 18 August 1916. Transferred to 23rd Field Artillery Brigade, 10 September 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 31 December 1916; transferred to 12th Field Artillery Brigade, 4 February 1917; to 10th Field Artillery Brigade, 9 March 1917.

Admitted to 11th Casualty Clearing Station, 29 June 1917 (strict urethra); transferred to 7th Convalescent Depot, Boulogne, 30 June 1917; to No. 3 Rest Camp, 8 August 1917. Found guilty, 10 August 1917, of being in a cafe during prohibited hours, 8 August 1917: reprimanded. Rejoined 10th Field Artillery Brigade, 28 August 1917.

Wounded in action, Belgium, 21 October 1917 (multiple shell wounds, chest and right shoulder); transferred to No. 2 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station; died of wounds, 22 October 1917.