Arthur Smith Scott was born in Shipley on 10 October 1875 and at the time of the 1911 census he was running a tobacconist, confectionery and general trading shop with his recently married wife, Hannah. The first we read of his war service is in the Shipley Times & Express on 13 July 1917: ‘Sgt Arthur Smith Scott, of the West Yorkshire Regt, formerly of the postcard shop, 46 Saltaire Road, Shipley, than whom few men are better known in Shipley, has been awarded the Military Medal and has been promoted from Lance-Sgt to full Sergeant. ‘His Lieut-Col certifies as follows: “During the operations on Hill 60 on June 7th, 8th and 9th, 1917, this N.C.O. was in charge of a section of bombers and led his men with great dash in the attack. “After the first objective had been secured, he organised a supply of bombs and thus materially assisted the capture of the second objective. Counter attack “At a later phase of the action when a counter-attack was threatened, he established the bombing post under heavy shell fire. Sgt Smith was 39 years of age when he enlisted and is now 40.” ‘It is great gratification to Shipley that many of its citizens have proved themselves so gallant in this world war and it is especially gratifying to the people who know that one of their tradesmen has earned this coveted distinction. ‘During Mr Smith’s absence fighting his country’s battles, Mrs Smith has managed the business.’ The following February saw Arthur awarded another medal:

‘Sgt A S Scott, West Yorkshire Regiment, of Shipley, has been awarded the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. ‘He was leading his company to take a position but had only gone 100 yards when he was wounded on the arm. Binding the wound up, he went on for 14 hours and took the objective. ‘He was mentioned in the dispatches as “a credit to his country.” ‘This is the second honour Sgt Scott has gained in six months, his first being the Military Medal, won for saving the flank of his company. ‘He has been wounded twice, gassed once and is now in Warrington Hospital suffering from trench fever and shell shock.’

The newspaper carried a report of Arthur’s discharge from the army on 13 December 1918, which filled in a few more details of his exploits. ‘His many friends will be glad to learn that Sgt Arthur Smith Scott, D.C.M., M.M., West Yorkshire Regt, has been discharged from the army and that he has resumed his business at 46 Saltaire Road Shipley. ‘He enlisted in the Bradford Pals on 7th June 1915 and went to the front in April 1916. ‘He fought on the Somme and was wounded on 23rd July 1916 after being in the big offensive for 23 days. ‘Returning to the front on 12th

December 1916, he was transferred to the 11th West Yorkshire Regt and took part in the operation at Hill 60 from 7th June 1917, when he won the Military Medal. Leading a party of bombers, he bombed the enemy dug-outs and then, reorganising the men of three companies, he went forward and secured a machine gun that had been holding up the advance. They then pressed forward and gained their final objective. ‘He afterwards also did valuable work in getting reinforcements up to the new front line. The same night he took charge of an advance trench where the officer had been killed and he held that position until relieved. Conspicuous gallantry ‘On 20th September 1917 he won the D.C.M. for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty being instrumental in getting men to their assembly positions for the attack under heavy bombardment. ‘He showed the greatest dash and judgement in the attack and though wounded, led his men through Inverness Copse to their objective and consolidated it under heavy fire. ‘The record of his work on that occasion states that he set a splendid example of courage and determination.’ The 1939 survey shows Arthur living in what is described as Wood Hut Evermore, Lodepit Lane. He is divorced from Hannah and retired from shopkeeping. Arthur died, aged 69, in 1945 and is buried in Hirst Wood Cemetery.