Andrew "Andy" Peter Scott

Andrew Scott - born Orari on 22 May 1886. Attended Orari School, went with the family to Lyalldale. Worked as agricultural contractor with his brothers and, if he was to be believed, ploughed many a "backface". In 1911 he joined his brother Jack as a farmer at Kerrytown. Neighbours were the Fitzgerald family who offered friendship and hospitality. Who could foresee the future. War was declared in 1914. He joined the army in 1916, saw action and was wounded twice during overseas service. He was privileged to visit Ireland and contacted members of the Scott family at Bunlacken, Ireland. Returned to New Zealand in 1919 - progress made with the Fitzgerald family!!! Jack married to Kit, Jim Fitzgerald courting Mary Scott, Andrew Scott engaged to Mary Fitzgerald. On 7 January 1920 Andrew and Mary were married in St Joseph's Church, Temuka. Father Kerley officiating, bridesmaid Cecilia Fitzgerald, bestman Frank Scott. Took up residence in newly built house in Kerrytown. This was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Hard times ahead. Jack and Andrew had been farming some 240 acres in partnership but due to worldwide depression "The Slump" - along with many other businesses and farming ventures - they had to be sold up and the partnership dissolved in 1933.

Time to start again, and again hard times. Struggled to get together a team of horses, a few implements and enough cash to pay the grocer etc. Remember the day of the bloody old cows, hand-milking and turning the separator. Kept us kids out of mischief, I suspect, and the cream cheque was invaluable.

Andrew, along with many others, worked hard, leased land, grew wheat, small seeds - Italian Ryegrass, Cocksfood, Dogstail, are names that come to mind. How he looked for the bumble bees to fertilise the Montgomery Clover. Can remember the scent on a still morning of a paddock of clover in full bloom. His health in these years was not good, work and worry not good companions for a duodenal ulcer. Finally had to have surgery in 1938. And always Mum - both of them I guess, but specially Mum with on with busy family life. Raising 10 children, most times a smile and a lot of prayer, it was as natural and simple as breathing - saying the Rosary as a family - making the nine First Fridays. Quite an adventure in the winter time getting up in the dark around 6.30am and waiting in the frost at the gate for Father Outrim to pick us up for the Mass said in the Oratory at St Joseph's Convent, Kerrytown. After Mass we would be allowed to light the school fire and make toast to have with hard boiled eggs and the Sisters would make us cocoa - A SPECIAL OCCASION. Fortunes fluctuated - good times - bad times - floods.

Joe took over the farm in 1950 and the garden became Andrew's patch. Both flower and vegetable and he was really able to indulge in one of the loves of his life - RUGBY. Seldom missed a Saturday - even though in latter years he was badly troubled with arthritis, a legacy from the "bloody" wet trenches, hence the walking stick which he did not hesitate to use to ram home a point. Memories of him, walking with one and then two sticks to his place in the Temuka Church for Mass. The hours he said in his possy on the front verandah with "the beads". Simple faith and true devotion to Our Lady, in the man who could argue and swear with the best of them.

Amidst these memories, we the family, Kevin, Paul, Larry, Betty, Bridgie, Joe, Ru, Agnes, Helen and Madelene, have our own understandings; but through it all we are sure we remember two people of faith committed to each other who shared their love and care with us. We were blessed to have them with us as they grew older and were able to care for them in their own home.

Andrew died on 4 June 1968 aged 82 years and Mary (Mime) on 21 May 1981 aged 88 years. We thank God for the gift of them.

Taken from "The Narrative of John and Bridget Scott of Lyalldale, South Canterbury and their Descendants". Researched and compiled by members of the second generation, 125 years after John arrived in New Zealand.

HIS WAR HISTORY

Andy went to World War I arriving in England at Devonport with the NZEF on 28 September 1916, a member of 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Battalion. They immediately marched into the NZ camp at Sling, near Southampton and ten days later left for France and encamped at Etaples, about 30 miles south of Calais on the French coast of the Channel.

We now know that two of the most fiercely fought battles of World War I were the Battle of the Somme, September - October 1916, and the Third Battle of Ypres, particularly the battle for Passchendaele in October 1917. Andy was wounded in both these battles.

They were fiercely fought under the most appalling conditions, bogged down in mud, bitterly cold, flooded and wet. There were very high numbers of casualties.

Accounts of both battles are now available on the internet and Andy was really a heroic man to have survived such ordeals. He had much to suffer but kept a positive outlook on life, his own brand of faith and good humour, without bitterness and with typical "Scott-type" hilarity.

On 19 October 1916 he joined the Battalion in the battlefield, posted to B Company as a Rifleman, and six days later, on 25 October he was wounded in action and admitted to the 14th General Hospital at Wieuereuix, then embarked for England, where he was admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital at Walton.

Conditions at the Battle of the Somme - October 1916

An internet account of the battle of the Somme, drawn partly from the diaries of the British commander, General Rawlinson, describes these days 19 - 31 October 1916.

October 19 - Rain, Heavy rain during the day and especially in the morning. There was heavy rain the night before as well as in the morning of the 19th, and the roads and ground surface are in a dreadful state.

October 20 - Fine day but very, very cold. The lowest temperature so far recorded during the Battle of the Somme.

October 21 - Fine but very cold day. The British advance on a line between the Schwaben Redoubt and le Sars and take many prisoners.

October 22 - Rain, a dull misty morning. The British advance toward le Transloy and capture a thousand yards of enemy trenches. R Dournie gained the VC to the east of Les boeufs.

October 24 - Rain, a dull day with rain. The French retake Douamont and capture 3,500 prisoners.

October 25 - Andy wounded in action. Rain in the morning, particularly in the area of Montauban. The shortage of supplies reduced the effectiveness of the artillery.

October 26 - Rain. A showery day particularly in the morning.

October 27 - Rain. Showery and cold day. The conditions are so bad that Rawlinson considers that it would be a physical impossibility for the infantry to advance. Even moving across a short distance would wear the troops out.

October 28 - Rain. A very week and cold day.

October 29 - Rain. Another very wet day.

October 30 - Rain. Wet and cold day. There were deluges of rain, which made the condition of the roads worse worse than ever.

October 31 - The road and trench conditions are very bad indeed and the area around Guedecourt is waterlogged.

Andy was wounded on 25 October 1916 in the left cheek and jaw. In a letter to his brother Jack three weeks later he says "the wound is healed and left very little mark. The jaw is stiff yet and the swelling has not gone down. I might be here for a week or two yet". And in a card from Hornchurch convalescent camp, to Mary, his sister, on 8 December he says "I came here two days ago but I have not got my teeth yet. There are about 1600 New Zealanders here, all have some trouble".

On 6 December 1916 he was transferred to the NZ Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch and after two weeks, on 18 December he was granted six weeks leave for Christmas and New Year. He returned to Sling on 2 February 1917 and was drafted to the Reserve Group.

He remained on at Sling for the first five months of 1917 and left for France for a second time on 6 July. Four days later on 10 July he marched into camp at Etaples for a second time. After a month there he rejoined his Unit on 27 September.

The First Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 began with a further Allied attempt to gain ground around Poelkapelle. The heavy rain again made movement difficult and artillery could not be brought closer to the front owing to the mud. The NZ Division had suffered heavily, losing 2,700 men in 4 hours on "New Zealand's blackest day".

Andy wrote two letters to his brother Jack (Shawn), one on 12 November 1916, just one month to the day since he was wounded in the leg at Passchendaele. He says he has not heard from his brother Mart (Uncle Marcy) yet. About his own story he says:

"I was taken in, the pants and underpants were cut off and a dressing put on. I was given a mug of tea and a few biscuits, put in a car - this was under shell fire - and taken further back. Of all the rides I have had that was the worst. I couldn't help the tears running out of my eyes. I knew I was a mug to howl but it twas no good. I didn't feel sorry for myself, for I was real glad I was hit and out of it, so I howled and laughed by turns, till we got to another dressing station about four miles further back, got more tea and biscuits, and were classified, put in cars again and by this time I couldn't move my leg. This time we were taken, four of us in the car, about fifteen miles back, inoculated for blood poisoning. We arrived at a Casualty clearing station, put in a hospital train about six in the evening, travelled all night till twelve next day. I laid there for 15 days waiting to be sent to Blighty. I was x-rayed and the bullet located, then I was put on a train which left at six that night and arrived at Le Havre at four next morning, laid there on a stretcher till 9am, then we were told we couldn't cross as the boat was full. We were taken to a hospital in town. There were 18 German prisoners on the train and two of us were taken into the prisoners ward. The sister asked me if I was a German and I thought she was 'slinging' at me so I says "yes, I am a Hun". She had a good look at me, and says to me, "were you at Ypres?" I told her "the Rifle Brigade never do any fighting". The other sister was having a good laugh and asked what part of New Zealand I came from. I said "Temuka". She said "I have been through Temuka". She was from Oamaru. Anyhow they called me "Fritz" while I was in the hospital.

About the conditions, he says to his brother Jack, "I forgot to say the state we were in. You remember where the pigs used to roll in the mud near the creek at Orari. If a fellow was rolled in that, all but his head, and it was a clay colour, you would have me when I got out with sand bags tied round my legs!.

The second letter was written the next day, 13 November, on the back of the seven pages of the first letter. He said that, after he had written the first letter, he "got twenty letters today, three from Mart, the poor young beggar has his leg off, the left one".

He goes on to say:

"But Jack, when one has seen the sights we see here it is nothing, don't worry about it, and tell Mom not to worry. I am sending a telegram to the hospital at Rouen and will wire you the result - he is strong and that will help him, but one never knows. I hope and trust for the best.

If it is God's will that I have to go back, I will do it and take my chances and trust in him for the best. You people in New Zealand don't know what it is like in a battle, thank God - that is why I am not so sorry about Mart. He is out of it for good now.

Tell Mom not to worry as Mart will be all right and a wooden leg is better than being blown to pieces as many a good fellow has been. Be sure to tell Mom not to worry. I know she will. Tell her to thank God, for Mart is lucky. I have seen seen with both legs and a hand off, laughing to split themselves. You will have him home in dear old NZ before long".

Andy was in hospital for six weeks then was transferred once again to a NZ General Convalescent Hospital for a month, this time at Hornchurch.

By this time his general health seems to have weakened and he was readmitted to the Cammock Chase Hospital, this time with bronchitis.

On 7 September six weeks after being discharged the Medical Board classified him as unfit. He was suffering from asthma, bronchitis and a rifle wound to the right thigh. He was placed on the NZ Roll. Three days later he joined the strength of the Discharge Depot at the Torquay HQ in London.

On 6 November 1918, seven weeks later and five days before Armistice Day 11 November 1918, he set sail from Plymouth for NZ on the "Ayrshire". He was finally discharged from the Army, back in New Zealand two months and two weeks later on 21 January 1919.

Written by his son Brother Paul - May 2007

Andrew Scott - born Orari on 22 May 1886. Attended Orari School, went with the family to Lyalldale. Worked as agricultural contractor with his brothers and, if he was to be believed, ploughed many a "backface". In 1911 he joined his brother Jack as a farmer at Kerrytown. Neighbours were the Fitzgerald family who offered friendship and hospitality. Who could foresee the future. War was declared in 1914. He joined the army in 1916, saw action and was wounded twice during overseas service. He was privileged to visit Ireland and contacted members of the Scott family at Bunlacken, Ireland. Returned to New Zealand in 1919 - progress made with the Fitzgerald family!!! Jack married to Kit, Jim Fitzgerald courting Mary Scott, Andrew Scott engaged to Mary Fitzgerald. On 7 January 1920 Andrew and Mary were married in St Joseph's Church, Temuka. Father Kerley officiating, bridesmaid Cecilia Fitzgerald, bestman Frank Scott. Took up residence in newly built house in Kerrytown. This was to be their home for the rest of their lives. Hard times ahead. Jack and Andrew had been farming some 240 acres in partnership but due to worldwide depression "The Slump" - along with many other businesses and farming ventures - they had to be sold up and the partnership dissolved in 1933.

Time to start again, and again hard times. Struggled to get together a team of horses, a few implements and enough cash to pay the grocer etc. Remember the day of the bloody old cows, hand-milking and turning the separator. Kept us kids out of mischief, I suspect, and the cream cheque was invaluable.

Andrew, along with many others, worked hard, leased land, grew wheat, small seeds - Italian Ryegrass, Cocksfood, Dogstail, are names that come to mind. How he looked for the bumble bees to fertilise the Montgomery Clover. Can remember the scent on a still morning of a paddock of clover in full bloom. His health in these years was not good, work and worry not good companions for a duodenal ulcer. Finally had to have surgery in 1938. And always Mum - both of them I guess, but specially Mum with on with busy family life. Raising 10 children, most times a smile and a lot of prayer, it was as natural and simple as breathing - saying the Rosary as a family - making the nine First Fridays. Quite an adventure in the winter time getting up in the dark around 6.30am and waiting in the frost at the gate for Father Outrim to pick us up for the Mass said in the Oratory at St Joseph's Convent, Kerrytown. After Mass we would be allowed to light the school fire and make toast to have with hard boiled eggs and the Sisters would make us cocoa - A SPECIAL OCCASION. Fortunes fluctuated - good times - bad times - floods.

Joe took over the farm in 1950 and the garden became Andrew's patch. Both flower and vegetable and he was really able to indulge in one of the loves of his life - RUGBY. Seldom missed a Saturday - even though in latter years he was badly troubled with arthritis, a legacy from the "bloody" wet trenches, hence the walking stick which he did not hesitate to use to ram home a point. Memories of him, walking with one and then two sticks to his place in the Temuka Church for Mass. The hours he said in his possy on the front verandah with "the beads". Simple faith and true devotion to Our Lady, in the man who could argue and swear with the best of them.

Amidst these memories, we the family, Kevin, Paul, Larry, Betty, Bridgie, Joe, Ru, Agnes, Helen and Madelene, have our own understandings; but through it all we are sure we remember two people of faith committed to each other who shared their love and care with us. We were blessed to have them with us as they grew older and were able to care for them in their own home.

Andrew died on 4 June 1968 aged 82 years and Mary (Mime) on 21 May 1981 aged 88 years. We thank God for the gift of them.

Taken from "The Narrative of John and Bridget Scott of Lyalldale, South Canterbury and their Descendants". Researched and compiled by members of the second generation, 125 years after John arrived in New Zealand.

HIS WAR HISTORY

Andy went to World War I arriving in England at Devonport with the NZEF on 28 September 1916, a member of 3rd NZ Rifle Brigade of the 3rd Battalion. They immediately marched into the NZ camp at Sling, near Southampton and ten days later left for France and encamped at Etaples, about 30 miles south of Calais on the French coast of the Channel.

We now know that two of the most fiercely fought battles of World War I were the Battle of the Somme, September - October 1916, and the Third Battle of Ypres, particularly the battle for Passchendaele in October 1917. Andy was wounded in both these battles.

They were fiercely fought under the most appalling conditions, bogged down in mud, bitterly cold, flooded and wet. There were very high numbers of casualties.

Accounts of both battles are now available on the internet and Andy was really a heroic man to have survived such ordeals. He had much to suffer but kept a positive outlook on life, his own brand of faith and good humour, without bitterness and with typical "Scott-type" hilarity.

On 19 October 1916 he joined the Battalion in the battlefield, posted to B Company as a Rifleman, and six days later, on 25 October he was wounded in action and admitted to the 14th General Hospital at Wieuereuix, then embarked for England, where he was admitted to No 2 NZ General Hospital at Walton.

Conditions at the Battle of the Somme - October 1916

An internet account of the battle of the Somme, drawn partly from the diaries of the British commander, General Rawlinson, describes these days 19 - 31 October 1916.

October 19 - Rain, Heavy rain during the day and especially in the morning. There was heavy rain the night before as well as in the morning of the 19th, and the roads and ground surface are in a dreadful state.

October 20 - Fine day but very, very cold. The lowest temperature so far recorded during the Battle of the Somme.

October 21 - Fine but very cold day. The British advance on a line between the Schwaben Redoubt and le Sars and take many prisoners.

October 22 - Rain, a dull misty morning. The British advance toward le Transloy and capture a thousand yards of enemy trenches. R Dournie gained the VC to the east of Les boeufs.

October 24 - Rain, a dull day with rain. The French retake Douamont and capture 3,500 prisoners.

October 25 - Andy wounded in action. Rain in the morning, particularly in the area of Montauban. The shortage of supplies reduced the effectiveness of the artillery.

October 26 - Rain. A showery day particularly in the morning.

October 27 - Rain. Showery and cold day. The conditions are so bad that Rawlinson considers that it would be a physical impossibility for the infantry to advance. Even moving across a short distance would wear the troops out.

October 28 - Rain. A very week and cold day.

October 29 - Rain. Another very wet day.

October 30 - Rain. Wet and cold day. There were deluges of rain, which made the condition of the roads worse worse than ever.

October 31 - The road and trench conditions are very bad indeed and the area around Guedecourt is waterlogged.

Andy was wounded on 25 October 1916 in the left cheek and jaw. In a letter to his brother Jack three weeks later he says "the wound is healed and left very little mark. The jaw is stiff yet and the swelling has not gone down. I might be here for a week or two yet". And in a card from Hornchurch convalescent camp, to Mary, his sister, on 8 December he says "I came here two days ago but I have not got my teeth yet. There are about 1600 New Zealanders here, all have some trouble".

On 6 December 1916 he was transferred to the NZ Convalescent Depot at Hornchurch and after two weeks, on 18 December he was granted six weeks leave for Christmas and New Year. He returned to Sling on 2 February 1917 and was drafted to the Reserve Group.

He remained on at Sling for the first five months of 1917 and left for France for a second time on 6 July. Four days later on 10 July he marched into camp at Etaples for a second time. After a month there he rejoined his Unit on 27 September.

The First Battle of Passchendaele on 12 October 1917 began with a further Allied attempt to gain ground around Poelkapelle. The heavy rain again made movement difficult and artillery could not be brought closer to the front owing to the mud. The NZ Division had suffered heavily, losing 2,700 men in 4 hours on "New Zealand's blackest day".

Andy wrote two letters to his brother Jack (Shawn), one on 12 November 1916, just one month to the day since he was wounded in the leg at Passchendaele. He says he has not heard from his brother Mart (Uncle Marcy) yet. About his own story he says:

"I was taken in, the pants and underpants were cut off and a dressing put on. I was given a mug of tea and a few biscuits, put in a car - this was under shell fire - and taken further back. Of all the rides I have had that was the worst. I couldn't help the tears running out of my eyes. I knew I was a mug to howl but it twas no good. I didn't feel sorry for myself, for I was real glad I was hit and out of it, so I howled and laughed by turns, till we got to another dressing station about four miles further back, got more tea and biscuits, and were classified, put in cars again and by this time I couldn't move my leg. This time we were taken, four of us in the car, about fifteen miles back, inoculated for blood poisoning. We arrived at a Casualty clearing station, put in a hospital train about six in the evening, travelled all night till twelve next day. I laid there for 15 days waiting to be sent to Blighty. I was x-rayed and the bullet located, then I was put on a train which left at six that night and arrived at Le Havre at four next morning, laid there on a stretcher till 9am, then we were told we couldn't cross as the boat was full. We were taken to a hospital in town. There were 18 German prisoners on the train and two of us were taken into the prisoners ward. The sister asked me if I was a German and I thought she was 'slinging' at me so I says "yes, I am a Hun". She had a good look at me, and says to me, "were you at Ypres?" I told her "the Rifle Brigade never do any fighting". The other sister was having a good laugh and asked what part of New Zealand I came from. I said "Temuka". She said "I have been through Temuka". She was from Oamaru. Anyhow they called me "Fritz" while I was in the hospital.

About the conditions, he says to his brother Jack, "I forgot to say the state we were in. You remember where the pigs used to roll in the mud near the creek at Orari. If a fellow was rolled in that, all but his head, and it was a clay colour, you would have me when I got out with sand bags tied round my legs!.

The second letter was written the next day, 13 November, on the back of the seven pages of the first letter. He said that, after he had written the first letter, he "got twenty letters today, three from Mart, the poor young beggar has his leg off, the left one".

He goes on to say:

"But Jack, when one has seen the sights we see here it is nothing, don't worry about it, and tell Mom not to worry. I am sending a telegram to the hospital at Rouen and will wire you the result - he is strong and that will help him, but one never knows. I hope and trust for the best.

If it is God's will that I have to go back, I will do it and take my chances and trust in him for the best. You people in New Zealand don't know what it is like in a battle, thank God - that is why I am not so sorry about Mart. He is out of it for good now.

Tell Mom not to worry as Mart will be all right and a wooden leg is better than being blown to pieces as many a good fellow has been. Be sure to tell Mom not to worry. I know she will. Tell her to thank God, for Mart is lucky. I have seen seen with both legs and a hand off, laughing to split themselves. You will have him home in dear old NZ before long".

Andy was in hospital for six weeks then was transferred once again to a NZ General Convalescent Hospital for a month, this time at Hornchurch.

By this time his general health seems to have weakened and he was readmitted to the Cammock Chase Hospital, this time with bronchitis.

On 7 September six weeks after being discharged the Medical Board classified him as unfit. He was suffering from asthma, bronchitis and a rifle wound to the right thigh. He was placed on the NZ Roll. Three days later he joined the strength of the Discharge Depot at the Torquay HQ in London.

On 6 November 1918, seven weeks later and five days before Armistice Day 11 November 1918, he set sail from Plymouth for NZ on the "Ayrshire". He was finally discharged from the Army, back in New Zealand two months and two weeks later on 21 January 1919.

Written by his son Brother Paul - May 2007