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Name: SCOTT, William Neil

Birth Date: 9 May 1862 Campbeltown, Argyll

Death Date: 18.10.1897 shot by Sudanese mutineers, Uganda

Nationality: British

First Date: 1897

Last Date: 1897

Profession: Engineer in charge of the Government's steam launch on Lake Victoria. Taken prisoner with Major Thruston and N. Wilson. Made a desparate effort to escape and was shot by Rehan.

Area: Uganda, Luba's

Book Reference: Permanent Way, Moyse, Tucker, Ansorge, North, UJ

General Information:

North - Steam Launch Engineer with A.& J. Inglis, Shipbuilders, signed agreement to go to Uganda 20/3/1896; dep. Cardiff with steamer parts for Lake Victoria 23/1/1897; d. 18/10/1897, murdered by Sudanese mutineers at Luba's
Uganda Journal - Vol 22 - The Mutiny Memorial at Bukaleba by H.B. Thomas - on the south side of the memorial - In Memory of Norman Alexander Wilson of Castle Park, Huntly, Scotland who lost his life here at the age of 25 when in charge of this province during the Soudanese rebellion. He was treacherously made prisoner and was shot by Bilal Effendi on the 19th October 1897. Also to the Memory of William Neil Scott Engineer of Campbeltown, N.B. Aetat 35, murdered at the same time and place
North - From Campbeltown, Scotland
Tucker - buried at Namirembe
Ansorge - It was at Luba's, where the Soudanese mutineers made their first stand and where they murdered three Europeans. Poor Major Thruston had lately succeeded to the highest military post, viz. that of Commandant of the Uganda Rifles, a force composed at that time entirely of Soudanese. He spoke Arabic fluently, and, as I thought, knew the Soudanese thoroughly. But his openly expressed affection for them led him to trust these blacks too much. He was in hopes that his mere unarmed presence would restore confidence, whereas the mutineers immediately placed hands on him and on Mr N. Wilson, the civilian in charge of Luba's I can only speak of this from hearsay, as I was stationed at the time in Unyoro.
The mutineers had already placed Major Thruston and Mr Wilson in irons, when Mr Scott, in charge of a Government dhow put in at Luba's. If what I heard is true, Mr Scott was warned by his own men not to land, but he either could not understand them or refused to be guided. The moment he landed, he was seized by the mutineers and led to the fort. According to one story, he tore himself free and made a rush for his dhow, but, though a burly and strong man, he was caught, overpowered, and placed in irons; and the villains, it is said, threw him on the ground and inflicted a number of lashes with a hippo-thong. Next day the mutineers made their unsuccessful assault on the small party of Europeans stationed on the adjoining hill. Exasperated by their defeat and in revenge, they, on returning to the fort, murdered the three unfortunate captive Europeans in cold blood. According to some, ghastly suffering was inflicted; according to others, Bilal Effendi, the ringleader, murdered all three by blowing out their brains.
Tucker - butchered by mutineers on Oct 18th

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