Library Reference Number: 221
Scott's Brave Heart
On the 8th September 1940 Royal Air Force Flying Officer William John Moir Scott's aircraft tragically crashed into the sea over the Dover Area. His body was later recovered in the Dover area and his family was informed.
It is hard to find out much detail in regards to how he actually died because the records from the 1940 period during the Battle of Britain are very limited, and many combat reports from that period are still to this day classified. However although it is believed his Spitfire R6756 was shot down in flames by a Messerschmitt Bf 109, it is likely he managed to bail out of his Spitfire because his body would have remained trapped inside the cockpit as the aircraft sank to the seabed so likely he passed into unconsciousness and died due to hypothermia in the cold sea. At that time the RAF's Search and Rescue capabilities were limited (they were improved significantly as the war progressed) and both the RAF and Navy rescue efforts were obviously also hampered by the ferocity of the battle that was going on at the time.
The Battle of Britain officially started on the 13th of August and ended on the 17th September 1940 and the peak of the battle was around the time that William and 294 of his fellow Spitfire and Hurricane pilots lost their lives although the final toll was 544 brave pilots of many different nationalities who rallied to the call. At this point many of the pilots were suffering from sheer exhaustion and battle fatigue as the Luftwaffe concentrated its efforts almost exclusively on the Airfields and Sector Stations of No 11 Group covering the South East of England and London. Williams' home airfield for his 41 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, was also severely bombed on the 31st August. However the day before William died he shot down at least one Messerschmitt 109E-l (3320) off Folkestone at 6pm (flown by Uffz W Melchert who was subsequently captured and imprisoned).
Just prior to the start of the battle of Britain William managed to crash and write off Spitfire N3100 on Monday 29th July at 7.50am although there are no further details available.
Although William was referred to four times in two extremely well known publications covering the period "Battle of Britain - Then and Now" and "The Blitz - Then and Now" and is listed in the RAF Roll of Honour on the RAF History web site http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/roll.html, there was only a picture of his gravestone at the family ground in Western Cemetery, Arbroath Road, Dundee in one of the publications. It was not until a picture turned up in a dusty box of mixed goods from a house clearance in a Blairgowrie saleroom in the mid-nineties did more details of William's story come to light. A large photograph of William in a dark blue leather frame (400 x 270mm) with a guilt set of RAF wing mounted into the top of the frame. The picture and frame, which are in good condition, and shows William in uniform with his pilot's wings and VR (volunteer reserve) collar badges. I made contact with Hans Houterman who runs a web site called unithistories.com who has listed details on many of the Battle of Britain pilots on his web site along with their photographs who kindly agreed to list Williams's details along with a copy of his photograph so the people could finally see the face behind the name.
The most intriguing aspect of William's picture was what was found inside the back of the frame which was a poem, which until now, I believe, has never been published. It was written by his uncle Lindsay Scott who lived in Blairgowrie in Perthshire, Scotland and is handwritten on his personalised stationary with his address and phone number.
William was born on 14th June 1915 (Dundee, Scotland). He was commissioned as Pilot Officer (service number 70611) in class AA, General Duties Branch, Reserve of Air Force Officers (RAFO) on 16th March 1937. He relinquished his commission 1st January 1938 on appointment to commission in the RAFVR, with effect from the same date, and seniority of 16th March 1937. Promoted Flying Officer 16th September 1938. He was also a University of Cambridge graduate.
As we approach the 71st anniversary of the Battle of Britain where William and his colleagues made their brave sacrifice which undoubtedly preserved ours and the rest of world's democracies against overwhelming odds, it is greatly overshadowed by the current government determination's to decimate the Royal Air Force against the advice of the Chiefs of Staff. Clearly like the run up to the Second World War and the Falklands where we were ill prepared, the government are prepared to take the gamble on the future that in the field of human conflict so much will be owed by so many to so few again.
However this heavy hand of the cuts seems to be particularly focused on Scotland where the government seems to be determined to all but erase over a century of military aviation history where much of the foundations of the Royal Flying Corps originated from and will likely have the father of the Royal Air Force, Lord Trenchard (originally a member of The Royal Scots Fusiliers), turning in his grave. Whilst Scotland is renowned for centuries of army regiments and the reputation they gained worldwide, a lesser known fact is that there is a disproportional percentage of Scots (in comparison to the entire UK population) throughout the Royal Air Force. Military aviation was, arguably, invented in 1910 by a Scot, Captain Bertram Dickson and his undoubted influence of Winston Churchill. It had therefore been fitting that Scotland remained home to a significant proportion of the strength of the RAF. With our current Prime Minister being half Scottish I am sure that these cuts are not being done because of the recent successes of the Scottish National Party or the potential of independence.
However when we think of the Battle of Britain the first thing that comes to mind is the great man, Winston Churchill's statement after the battle in the House of Commons "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few" However on this occasion, Mr Prime Minster, I believe William's uncle earned last right of reply in his heart-felt poem in tribute to his brave nephew (written the day after his death) and to all his fallen comrades at arms (whichever side of the border);
He Landed at Dover
The air it was in which he sought our freedom,
And high above the clouds he often soared,
There to defend from enemy and evil,
Those countless souls he knew not but the Lord.
In water his dear Christian name was given,
That name he carried high throughout his life,
And yestere’en the same uplifting water,
Bore back to us the one who loved us so.
No crown of thorns upon his brow he carried,
His raiment was a Royal Airforcemen's suit,
Yet like his Master he's now gained his Glory,
And from his labours Rest in Perfect Peace.
God grant to us and those who followed after,
To toil for Freedom carrying on his worth,
In what remains of our brief lifetimes journey,
Climb upwards, fighting onwards, back to thee.
- To the memory of My Nephew by his uncle Lindsay Scott.