War Memorial

More men have been found, associated with Scotter, who served in and survived the Great War but are not listed on the War Memorial.

Although the next man appears to be listed on the South facing side it is believed another error of initials was made when the monument was re-furbished in the 1980s:- 

J.F. LOUGHTON

Joseph Frederick T. Loughton

Born 16th June 1899 at Messingham

Son of David (a bricklayer) and Bertha Annie (nee Stocks, both from Messingham)

Family emigrated to the United States of America in 1906 

Lived on Joseph Campau Street in Detroit, Messingham where the family had a business

Became an apprentice mason to his father

Drafted into the American Army on 12th September 1918

Described as medium height, slender build, gray eyes and brown hair

Married Viola Estelle Remley of Colorado

Might have has a son named Robert E.

Probably lived at 822 North Hudson Avenue in Los Angeles, California

Died 3rd March 1977 aged 77 at Los Angeles

The Australian National Archives give details of a man born in Scotter who served in their armed forces:-

photo found in his belongings

GEORGE BLACKBURN HEWSON

2161 Private, 7th Light French Mortar Battery

Transferred to 4th Battalion

Born 7th April 1869 in Scotter

Son of Joseph and Abigail (nee Blackburn)

When he was a boy his mother moved with her children to Low Burnham near Haxey

Over a 3 year period served in the South Africa Light Horse, the Kane Rifles and the Johannesburg Mounted Police

Became a flour miller

Enlisted in Liverpool, New South Wales on 5th December 1916 claiming to be 43 years old

Ddescribed as 5' 7" tall, of fair complexion with blue eyes and fair hair

Embarked from Melbourne in May 1917 and arrived at Plymouth two months later 

Sent back to Australia in March 1918 and discharged due to ill health

Became 85707 Private, Special Service, Australian Imperial Force in May 1919 

Set sail from Sydney for London on the 'Willochra' arriving in July

Returned to Australia a month later and discharged on 6th September 1919

His death from a brain haemorrhage on 29th December 1922 was the subject of a murder trial:-

The ‘Sydney Morning Herald’ of 1st January 1923 reported:

Before Mr. Walter Scott, P.M., yesterday morning, John Edward Young was committed for trial at the Central Criminal Court in Sydney on March 19 on a charge arising out of the death of George Hewson at Temora on December 29. Evidence was given that Hewson in falling struck his head against a telegraph post, and died a few minutes later.

The ‘Brisbane Courier’ of 27th March 1923 under the headline ‘Temora tragedy - charge of murder’

John Edward Young (35) was charged in the Central Criminal Court, Darlinghurst, to-day, before Mr. Justice Gordon and a jury, with having murdered George Hewson, at Temora on December 29. The Crown Prosecutor stated that Hewson was employed at the Empire Hotel, Temora. Young had also been employed there, but had been given notice. He met Hewson coming out of the shop, and struck him. Hewson fell, and died a few minutes later. When arrested Young said, "He was after my job." William Davis, a contractor, said that he saw Hewson, in falling, hit his head against a post. As he lay on the ground blood came from his mouth. The defence was that Hewson was drunk when he met accused, who, from the dock, stated that he did not at any time strike Hewson. Accused was acquitted and discharged.

These men worked in Scotter:-

JOSPEH CYRIL CLAYTON 

30987 Private, 3rd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 

30987 Private, 'A' Company, 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 

Born July 1893 at Kirmington

Son of John (a woodman from West Rasen) and Mary Jane (nee Phillips of Horkstow, nr South Ferriby)

Became a policeman

Enlisted 29th November 1916 

Described as 5 feet 10 inches tall

Injured in active service and moved to the War Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent

Transferred to the 8th Battalion on 23rd April 1917

Posted to the Depot on 27th December 1917

Discharged due to sickness 14th May 1918 and assessed as being '80% disabled'

Received Silver War Badge 364130 as no longer medically fit for active service

Went home to Briggate Lodge, Kirmington

Spent some time at Grafton House, Brocklesby Park Road, Lincoln probably to recuperate

Received a war pension

May have died in 1936 aged 42 in the Grimsby registration district

BENJAMIN SMITH

2987 Lance Corporal, Military Mounted Police

37858 Private, 10th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment

308818 Private, ‘B’ Company, 3rd Light Tank Battery, Tank Corps

Born at Wyberton around 15th December 1892

Son of George (a farmer/fishmonger from Frampton) & Susannah (of Fosdyke)

In 1911 worked as a blacksmith apprentice and lived at the home of William Atkin (a shoeing and general smith) at Spalding Road, Wyberton

Became a police constable, moved to Scotter and lived on High Street

Enlisted on 10th December 1915 at Gainsborough

Described as Wesleyan, 5 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 158 pounds

Called up as a Lance Corporal in the Mounted Military Police on 1st February 1916

Sailed from Southampton to Rouen on 21st June

As a result of Army discipline transferred to the Gloucester’s on 6th January 1917

Returned to England and joined the Tank Corps at Wareham on 8th February 1918

Appointed 2nd Class Mechanic on 23rd April

Sent to France on 2nd May

Demobilized on 7th February 1919 and posted to Class ‘Z’ Army Reserve

Address given as Rose Cottage, Kirton-in-Holland

May have died in 1951 aged 58 in the Scunthorpe registration districe

HARRY SMITH

Born abour 1889 at Clarborough near Retford 

Became a wheelwright and joiner

Married Caroline Betsy Taylor on 4th January 1911 at St. Peter’s Church

Set up home in Scotter

Part of the British Expeditionary Force when son Joseph Eric christened on 1st December 1918

Son Harry Edwin began the haulage company Smiths of Scotter

Interred 27th July 1961

Buried alongside his wife in Scotter Cemetery

The next 2 men were born and raised in Scotter:-

JOSEPH CHESWICK 

13418 Corporal, Army Veterinary Corps

Born 1869 in Scotter 

Son of Joseph (a horse breaker from Scotton) and Louisa (nee Woodhouse of Kirton-in-Lindsey)

Orphaned when he was 12 years old

Children dispersed with George, the youngest, being placed in Gainsborough Union Workhouse

Became a stableman and groom

Married Annie Elizabeth Gibbons in 1894 in the Newmarket district 

Set up home at 27 Lowther Street, Newmarket 

Father of at least 10 children 

Moved to work at Chantilly, France

Disembarked in France on 5th December 1915

Worked in the horse racing industry

Lived at Church Cottages, Blewbury, Berkshire 

Died aged 82 and buried on 17th May 1952 at Blewbury Cemetery

Mother buried in the churchyard

Brother of William Edward (see other Great War casualties)

Beatrice and Amos. Photo from Linda Hempsall, granddaughter of his son Stanley

AMOS SLEIGHT  (pronounced 'Slight')

G/25666 Private, 3rd Battalion,

The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

Born 21st November 1886 in Scotter

Son of William Day (an agricultural labourer from Kirton-in-Lindsey) and Mary (nee Green of Scotter)

Older brothers and sisters were Mary Jane (died 1898), Frederick, Emily, Herbert (died 1916) and Walter (killed 1918).

Family lived at Scotterwood Lodge then Cote Houses

After his mother died in 1899, lived at West Street with Walter and their father

The 2 brothers moved to Lincoln where older brother Herbert was living

Married Beatrice Bennett in 1907

Children William Ernest (Ernie; born 1909), Gladys, Stanley (1912), Christine (1914), Beatrice May (1916) and Madge

Became a canteen waiter and family lived at 54 Westcliffe Street, Lincoln   

Enlisted 11th December 1915

Suffered gun shot wounds to the chest and left arm on 1st October 1918

Admitted to Dundee War Hospital from 11th October 1918 to 6th February 1919

Assessed as having 20% loss of mobility to his arm

Discharged 17th April 1919

Received Silver War Badge B184253 as no longer medically fit for active service

Worked for the Electricity Board and involved with converting houses from gas to electricity

In his 60's was reading meters for his employer 

Died 19th April 1963 aged 76 

Buried in Newport Cemetery, Lincoln 

Mother buried in Scotter Cemetery

Brother of Walter (main face).

Uncle of Frederick Wray (other Great War casualties)

This man worked in Scotter:-

JOHN HODSON

15904 Private, 6th & 8th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 

648025 Private, 409th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps

Born February 1887 at Teversal, Nottinghamshire 

Son of Henry (an agricultural labourer from Scothern) and Jane (nee Horne of Market Rasen)

Family moved to Carburton Nottinghamshire and then Wildsworth 

In 1901 worked as a yardman on the Pycock farm at Kirton Road, Scotter

Married Emma Harpham at East Stockwith on 19th May 1909

Became a waggoner 

Enlisted on 17th March 1915 at Gainsborough 

Gave address as Red Hill, Blyton Carr 

Described as 5 feet 6 and a half inches tall

Posted overseas to the 8th Battalion on 15th July 1916 

Injured and removed to Lewisham Military Hospital 

Granted a furlough from 11th March to 21st May 1918

After this reported to Command Depot, 8th Lincolnshires

Transferred to Labour Corps on 20th September 1918

Older brother Joseph killed; remembered on the Wildsworth War Memorial