Major Freddie Scott
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Stories and memories
Freddie was born in Monifieth, practically on the edge of Carnoustie golf links just east of Dundee. He won a scholarship to Fettes College in Edinburgh, did very well academically and in 1940 aged just 18, decided his future lay in the military alongside his father and brother. He enlisted as a private in The Duke of Wellington's Regiment and soon after, he was commissioned into the 2nd Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (Service No: 229829) who were about to play a key role in the Normandy campaign of WW2.
Freddie's regiment played a key role in Operation Mallard. Some wonderful original footage:
You can read Charles Aitkenhead's detailed account, including many original photos and regiment participant lists of Operation Mallard Landing Zone LZ'W' (Freddie's) by clicking on the image below:
Freddie is awarded the Military Cross
On 25 August, the 2nd Ox & Bucks was ordered to attack the strong garrison in Manneville La Raoult. It was a huge challenge dealing with the enemy and the lie of the land, but C Company managed to secure a foothold inside the village with Freddie in particular really showing his mettle. He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery, the citation stating:
"Lieutenant Scott commanded a platoon throughout the campaign in Normandy. He has taken out many patrols into enemy lines and his skill, personal courage and powers of leadership have been a source of constant inspiration to his men. In particular on 25 August 1944 Lieutenant Scott's platoon was to infiltrate towards a known enemy position. When his leading section came under machine gun fire and grenades from an enemy post, Lieutenant Scott immediately went forward firing his Sten inflicting casualties on the enemy and drove them out. During the action this officer's example, leadership and determination were largely responsible for the success of the action and were an inspiration to the men under him."
Cousin Jim's memories of Freddie and Millie
“Millie was eccentric, wild, and very noisy. She would shout to greet people from a great distance. She hated pain of any kind and so refused to have children of their own. Instead, they adopted two boys but even then, she wasn't a natural mother. Freddie later worked for British American Tobacco and was based in Penang, Malaya. After a period in South Africa, they returned to England, and he managed a marketing research company and food import business (he imported a wonderful green peppercorn garlic sausage from France which I never found anywhere else despite trying very hard). Millie wasn’t much of a cook; having lived in Penang, her fare was always rice from a rice-cooker together with prepared meals or curry. Millie died fairly young in 1979 – at 57 I think - and poor Freddie carried on by himself in Bognor Regis. Freddie died on 15 April 2011 and the obituaries were suitably respectful of his service to our country. He was a great man.”