Famous Cattle Breeder Spent Youth In Otago

Press, Volume XCVI, Issue 28440, 21 November 1957, Page 13

Famous Cattle Breeder Spent Youth In Otago

"The Press” Special Service

DUNEDIN, November 20. One of the world’s foremost cattle breeders and the son of an early Central Otago family, Mr James Tindal Steuart Scrymgeour, has sold his well-known Netherby holding in Queensland and is now devoting time to his other interest—writing books. Mr Scrymgeour, who bred the famous Polled Shorthorn strain of cattle, lost the sight of both eyes during World War I. His parents owned the “Teviot Downs” station, and Mr Scrymgeour, his brother and two sisters attended the Moa Flat School, where they were taught by Mrs James Stark. Mrs Stark lives in Dunedin now and even after 50 years she can clearly remember the Scrymgeour children. Friendship Re-established Mr and Mrs Scrymgeour later sold the station and shifted to Napier, so Mrs Stark lost touch with the family. It was not until years later that Mrs Stark happened to pick up a

paper and see a small paragraph about Mr Scrymgeour, who was by this time living in Australia Mrs Stark clipped it out and so. after many years, a pupil-teacher friendship was re-established. In the intervening years Mr Scrymgeour had had his share of trials. He went to the first World War with B Troop, B Squadron of the Queensland Second Light Horse, and on July 14, 1918, he was wounded, losing the sight of both eyes. Specialists were unable to do anything for his sight, so he attended St. Dunstan’s Hospital in London, where he learned to type. This gave him an outlet for his isolation, and he has devoted some time to writing books. Campaign in Palestine A book of verse had been written, or rather scribbled out, during the campaigns in Palestine before Mr Scrymgeour lost his sight. The history of the manuscript of this book, "Echoes of the Australian Light Horse m Egypt and Palestine,” is richly coloured with adventure. During the battle at Museleba, the manuscript was stolen from a dug-out, but was found on a dead German, a mile and a half from Museleba. With other personal belongings it was eventually delivered to the owner in hospital at Port Said. Since “Echoes” was published. Mr Scrymgeour has written several other books, including one dealing with New Zealand, and a romance, soon to be published in Sydney. After the war Mr Scrymgeour settled on the Netherby station in Queensland. He began breeding the famous Polled Shorthorn strain of cattle, now found all over the world. Stock from Netherby have scored notable successes at shows in Australia.