Robert George Scott

He threw live shells by hand and suffered very grave wounds.

Robert George Scott was born at Whittlesey, near Peterborough on 22 April 1857 and educated at Epsom College and Aberdeen Grammar School. He joined the Cape Mounted Riflemen in 1876 and served in southern African campaigns.

On 8 April 1879, during an assault on Morosi's Mountain in Basutoland, Scott volunteered to throw time-fuzed shells over a defended stone wall. He first ordered the men near him to take cover against a premature explosion. On his second attempt a shell burst almost in his hands, destroying his right hand and badly wounding his leg. His determination and concern for the others earned the Victoria Cross.

After recovering, Scott remained connected with South African military life. During the Boer War he served with the Kimberley Light Horse and raised railway guards to protect the Orange River-Kimberley line. He received the Distinguished Service Order in 1901. In the First World War he commanded Kimberley commandos and the Veteran Regiment, although poor health restricted his service. He died at Wynberg on 3 October 1918 and was buried in Plumstead Cemetery.

Victoria Cross citation (London Gazette, 1 October 1880)

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion during an attack on Moirosi's Mountain, on the 8th April, 1879, in volunteering to throw time fuze shells, as hand grenades, over a line of stone barricades, from behind which, the enemy were bringing a heavy fire to bear on the Colonial Troops, and which it was impossible effectually to return. After causing all the men of his party to retire under cover, lest the shell should burst prematurely (by which precaution many lives were in all probability saved), Sergeant Scott advanced in a most deliberate manner under a heavy fire, and, having got under the wall, made two attempts to throw shells over it. At the second attempt, owing to some defect in the fuze, which he had just lighted, the shell exploded almost in Sergeant Scott's hands, blowing his right hand to pieces, and wounding him severely in the left leg.