John Scott was born in Southsea, Hampshire on 1 February 1888, the son of Captain John Binney Scott, RN and Agnes Katherine Binney Scott. He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in May 1903 and was promoted to Midshipman on 15 September 1904. He was promoted to Sub Lieutenant on 15 November 1907 and, on 1 October 1908 he was appointed to the Battleship HMS CANOPUS. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 30 June 1910 and, on 17 December 1910 he was appointed to the Cruiser HMS BRISTOL.

He joined Submarines when he was appointed to HMS DOLPHIN at Portsmouth on 1 November 1912. On 3 March 1913 he was appointed to the Submarine Depot Ship HMS FORTH for Submarines. At this time, the Flotilla was operating three ‘B’ and three ‘C’ Class submarines.

A further appointment followed on 1 April 1914 to HMS E3. E3 was lost on 18 October 1914. The submarine had been detailed to patrol off the Island of Borkum. The German U-Boat U-27 sighted E3, on the surface. The Commander of U-27 fired his torpedoes and sank E3.

John Scott listed his mother Agnes Katherine Binney Scott of Westbourne, Emsworth, Hants as his Next of Kin. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No. 1 and, on the War Memorial at Westbourne in Sussex.