16447 Pte Joseph Michael Scarr, 9th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers

16447 Pte Joseph M Scarr of the 9th Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, died on 30th July 1916. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) records that he was the son of Joseph and Harriet Scarr of 23, Mark Street, Newtownards, Co. Down and that he was born at Downham Market, Norfolk. Soldiers Died in The Great War (SDGW) gives his place of birth as Dipton, County Durham, his place of residence as Blackhill, County Durham, and his place of enlistment as Consett (also County Durham).

The 1901 census records Joseph as a five year old boy living at 25 Benfieldside Road, Benfieldside, Durham. The head of the household is recorded as Joseph Scarr, a 38 year old widower working as a coal miner and then there are Joseph junior's siblings: Sabina M Scarr (aged 16), William T Scarr (aged 15 and also working as a coal miner) and Mary B Scarr aged 7. All the family members are recorded as having been born in Dipton.

CWGC records Joseph's age as 40 but this must be incorrect. The place of birth is also at odds with the information on SDGW and the 1901 census. A check through the birth registers reveals that Joseph's birth was registered at Durham in the March quarter of 1896.

Joseph's number indicates that he joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers in January 1915. However, he died before he even got to France and is buried at Edinburgh's Comely Bank Cemetery, grave reference D.7.

CWGC states that "during the First World War, Edinburgh was headquarters to the 4th, 5th, 6th and 9th Battalions of the Royal Scots, with the 7th Battalion at Leith. The 2nd Scottish General Hospital (1,000 beds) occupied Craigleith Poorhouse, the Edinburgh War Hospital (2,600 beds) was in the Asylum buildings at Bangour and the Leith War Hospital (585 beds) in the infirmary at Leith." There are 304 Commonwealth War Graves at Comely Bank.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (BMD, 1901 census)
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Soldiers Died in the Great War