Description
Queen’s South Africa, 3 bars, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Belfast, King’s South Africa, 2 bars, 6788 Private Walter Scott, Royal Scots, a Selkirk man.
“The men who worked with Walter Scott near Waipiro Bay in 1912 had sleepless nights because from the bunk he screamed that ‘They are after me!’.
Following a spree five months earlier, phantoms had pursued Scott into the Bush. His mates on the most recent occasion tied him to a bunk and told him to shut up.” – Sadly Troubled History, meanings of Suicide in the Modern Age, Pub 2009, John Weaver (McMaster University)
“TRAGEDY AT WAIPIRO BAY, SUPPOSED CASE OF SUICIDE
WAPIRIO BAY, 6th SEPTEMBER (1912)
Mr Walter Scott, aged 31, who has been working at Puketoro Station, and had been peculiar lately, was brought in by his mates yesterday to see Dr Osborne.
Scott was suffering from Insomnia.
Dr Osborne gave Scott a sleeping draught and gave instructions that he should be watched.
A mate slept with him, and up to midnight he had no sleep in spite of the draught.
Scott then said he would try something else and reached out of bed and took a razor and committed the deed.
His mate struggled with him and secured the razor, but too late.
The Doctor was fetched and the throat sewn up, but Scott died at 5 am.
The inquest is now 5pm proceeding. It is understood that Mr James Scott of Dennistoun, is a brother.
Scott had worked in India and Africa, where he contracted Enteric Fever.”
– The Gisborne Times, Volume XXX, Issue 3622
Both officially impressed to 6788 Private Walter Scott, Royal Scots.
Entitlement confirmed on the medal roll.
Served with 1st Battalion Royal Scots through the Boer War.
Walter Scott was born circa 1881-2 in Selkirk, Galashiels, Selkirkshire.
His father Thomas (Born 1842) was a Road Contractor and Widower as of the 1891 Census, the family was raised by him at their home in Castle Street, Selkirk. Thomas was tasked with 3 sons and 2 daughters.
At the age of 18, Walter attested for service at Glasgow on 22nd July 1899, for the Royal Scots.
He saw the following service:
At home, 22nd July 1899 – 16th May 1900
South Africa 17th July 1900 – 21st November 1902
India, 22nd November 1902 – 1st May 1907
Home, 2nd May 1907 – 21st July 1911
Finished 12 years service, 7 years with the Colours and 5 with the Reserves on 21st July 1911.
Death announced locally:
“SCOTT – Died at Waipiro Bay, East Coast, New Zealand, at the 6th September. Walter, eldest son of the late Thomas Scott, of Halliday’s Park, Selkirk, aged 30 years. Deeply Mourned.”
Confirmed to be the same man mentioned above, who had a younger Brother James Scott, 2 years his junior.
He is buried in Te Peuia Springs Cemetery, Gisborne, New Zealand.
It is suggested in the book that the Horrors experienced were delusions symptomatic of alcoholic psychosis, apparently it was also common in the period to supplement the alcohol with some Chlorodyne which was liquid Morphine.
It also mentions the psychosis had followed a “Spree” of alcohol 5 months earlier.
