Brigadier General Robert Scott-Kerr DSO (2 November 1859 – 25 November 1942)

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The grave is situated on a high bank overlooking the Teviot near Sunlaws Mill. It is marked by a simple stone set upright. 

Brigadier-General Robert Scott-Kerr (1859-1942) DSO, MVO commanded the 4th (Guards) Brigade at the outbreak of the Great War. He was badly wounded in the thigh at Villers-Cotterets. 


"Brigadier General Robert Scott-Kerr DSO (2 November 1859 – 25 November 1942) was a British Army officer.
After being educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge, he was commissioned in the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1879, transferring shortly thereafter to the Grenadier Guards. He saw service in the Zulu War, where he fought at the Battle of Ulundi, the Sudan Campaign and the South African War, where he was mentioned in despatches and awarded the Distinguished Service Order. From 1904 to 1908 he commanded the 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards.

On the outbreak of the First World War he took command of 4th (Guards) Brigade in the British Expeditionary Force. He was wounded on 1 September, commanding 4th Brigade in a rearguard action during the Retreat from Mons, and returned to England. The injuries proved so severe that he never again held a field command; he commanded a brigade in the Home Forces for the remainder of the war, before retiring in 1919.

Born 8th November 1859, the eldest son of William Scott-Kerr of Sunlaws and Chato, and his second wife, Frances Louisa, daughter of Robert Fennessy, Esquire. Ensign 26th March 1879; to Grenadier Guards 26th November 1879; Lieutenant 1st July 1881; Captain 16th December 1890; Major 19th September 1896; Lieutenant Colonel 14th February 1902; Brevet Colonel 14th February 1907; Honorary Brigadier General Retired Pay 2nd January 1915. Died 25th November 1942.
Served in the Zulu War 1879, present at Ulundi. Served in the Sudan 1885, at Suakin. Served in South Africa 1900 - 02 in Orange River Colony, actions at Biddulphsburg, Wittebergen and in the Transvaal. Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 10th September 1901. (DSO 27th September 1901). Commanded 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 14th September 1904 - 14th February 1907. Commanded Grenadier Guards and Regimental District 30th July 1901 - 29th July 1914; 4th Guards Brigade 5th August 1918. Severely wounded at Mons. Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 19th October 1914. (CB 1914). Commanded Central Force, Home Defence 2nd January 1915 - 26th March 1915. Commanded 10th and 11th Divisions 15th October 1915 - 7th December 1915. Commanded 191 Infantry Brigade 8th December 1915 - 14th January 1918.
CB; CMG; DSO;MVO; South Africa Medal with Clasp 1879; Egypt Medal 1884 - 89; Khedive’s Bronze Star; Queen’s South Africa Medal with three Clasps; King’s South Africa Medal with Clasps; 1914 Star and bar; British War Medal; Victory Medal.

Date of Birth - 8th November 1859
First Appointment - 2nd Lieutenant (from Militia) - 24th Foot - 26th March 1879
2nd Lieutenant - Grenadier Guards - 26th November 1879
Lieutenant - Grenadier Guards (3rd Battalion) - 1st July 1881
South African War - 1879 - Zulu Campaign - Battle of Ulundi. Medal with Clasp.
Source ‘1884 Army List’ (p 555, 793 & 1349)

Robert Scott-Kerr

(1859-1942)

Brigadier-General

DSO. GOC Infantry Brigade

Grenadier Guards

Robert Scott-Kerr was the eldest son of William Scott-Kerr of Sunlaws and Chatto in the Scottish borders. He was commissioned in the South Wales Borderers (then the 24th Foot) from the Militia in March 1879, transferring to the Grenadier Guards eight months later. He served in the Zulu War (1879), the Soudan (1885) and South Africa (1900-2), where he won the DSO. On the outbreak of the Great War he took command of 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division, but was badly wounded in the thigh by a German machine gun at Villers-Cotterêts on 1 September 1914. His wound was so severe that he was prevented from assuming an active field command again. He was one of only four GOsC Infantry Brigades in the original BEF who did not go on to command (at least) a division. Brigadier-General Scott-Kerr retired in 1919.

Text by Littlehand.