SCOTT, Wilfred

NAME             SCOTT          Wilfred
RANK             Private             59439
                       I Canadian Corps - 1st Canadian Infantry Division - 1st Infantry Brigade                                          REGIMENT    The Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.
                       "ready"                                                                                                                                                                         Canadian Infantry Corps
Residence      Cromarty - Ontario                                                                                                                          Born                April 2, 1919 - Cromarty - Township of Hibbert - County of Perth                                                       Died                May 24, 1944          25 years   1 month 
Cemetery       Minturno War Cemetery - Marina di Minturno (Garigliano) - Frosinone - Italy.
                       IV K 4
Parents          Mr. John and Agnes Scott - Cromarty                                                                                                  Brother           Private F. Scott was serving at Camp Borden with the Royal Canadian Army Medical Corps                                                                                                      
Wilfred was born on April 2, 1919 in Cromarty - Ontario. His schooling was Public School, 3 years of High School, and then 6 months of Business College. The family would have attended Cromarty Presbyterian Church. Prior to his enlistment he worked for Ernest Allin as a Chopping Mill Operator in Cromarty. He was also a beekeeper which may have been his hobby.

Canada                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Wilfred went to Chatham on March 26, 1942 and enlisted into the Canadian Army. At that time he stood 6' and weighed 164 pounds. He had a medium complexion and his eyes were blue and his hair was brown. He had enlisted under the National Resources Mobilization Act and posted to the Royal Canadian Engineers and attached to the Home War Establishment in London. The same day he went to No. 1 District Depot in London and then posted to Chatham to No. 12 Basic Training Centre. On April 7 he was posted to Camp Borden to      No. 10 Canadian Infantry Training Centre. He was Taken on Service as reinforcement for the Perth Regiment. He was posted to Vocational School in London on July 1. In the middle of November he was AWOL from Vocational School and loses 2 days of pay. He then disobeyed an order and lost another 7 days of pay. He is at the Vocational School until December 7 and then posted to No. Manning Depot. The following day he is back at Camp Borden to No. 10 Canadian Infantry Training Centre.                                                                                      On the first day of 1943 he is attached to the Royal Canadian Engineers. On March 8 he is attached to the Perth Regiment and on March 10 is Struck Off Service of the Canadian Army in Canada and the following day is Taken on Service with the  Canadian Army overseas. He then disembarked in the United Kingdom at Gourock - Scotland on March 17 and the next day was Taken on Service with the 8th Canadian Infantry Reinforcement Unit. On May 31 it was on to No. 1 Canadian Base Reinforcement Depot and on June 1 was posted to the Hastings and Prince Edward Regiment.

The Mediterranean Theatre

Private Scott along with the I Canadian Corps embarked from the United Kingdom on June 29, 1943 and on that day he was Struck Off Service of the Canadian Army in the United Kingdom and the following day he was Taken On Service with the Canadian Army in the Mediterranean Theatre. 

In the Field

Private Scott was attached to his unit on August 30.                                                                                                  On January 27, 1944 he was evacuated on medical grounds and then on February 7 he was attached to the 4th Canadian Reserve Battalion. He then rejoined his unit on February 9.                                                                      The Regiment was in the Liri Valley as part of "Operation Chesterfield" on May 23 and preparing to advance onto the Hitler Line.                                                                                                                                                          The weather prior to the barrage was a thick haze over the battlefield. At 5 am 800 guns of all calibres began their barrage and then 300 guns began laying down a barrage 3,200 yards wide and three minutes later. the 2nd and 3rd Brigades led the advance with the 1st Brigade on the left flank. The 48th Highlanders had fought their way to Point 106. One Company had reached the top while another was pinned down by enemy fire. the "Hasty Pats" then began their advance to relieve the situation by attacking on the right and by 5 pm both regiments were securing Point 106. Rain began to fall in the afternoon and rapidly made the advance forward much slower. :ate in the evening of May 23rd Private Scott received a wound to the head and suffered a fractured skull. Just prior to midnight on the night of May 23/24 he was moved to No. 4 Canadian Field Ambulance. Then at 2 am on the morning of May 24 the Medical Corps began his transfer to No. 3 Canadian General Hospital. They arrived at 6 am but Private Scott was not able to survive the night.

In August of 1944, his mother Agnes received the Memorial Cross and at a later date the family received the medals awarded to Wilfred which were the 1939-45 Star, the Italy Star, the War Medal along with the Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with clasp.

Wilfred is honoured and remembered on the Mitchell Cenotaph, he is honoured and remembered on the Memorial Plaque of Cromarty Presbyterian Church. He is honoured and remembered on the Virtual Canadian War Memorial.

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