He was the father of Air Vice Marshal James Rowland Scarlett-Streatfeild who was killed serving in the Second World War.

Scarlett joined the Royal Navy in (or around) 1891, and held the rank of lieutenant when in July 1902 he was posted as 1st lieutenant on the training ship HMS Caledonia, anchored at the Firth of Forth.

[2] In April 1913 he attended the Central Flying School, being awarded his Aviator's Certificate no.

[3] He served in the First World War as the Inspecting Captain of Aircraft, of Air Stations and then of Air Training, gaining a promotion to wing captain at the close of 1915.

[3] His last appointment was as Air Officer Commanding Middle East Command in October 1929 before he retired in the rank of air vice marshal in December 1931.