Pte 17804 Arthur Cottrell

Arthur Cottrell was born in the summer of 1893, in Willaston, Cheshire, the son of Thomas Raymond Cottrell and his wife Elizabeth Emily (née Davies).  His parents were both born in Cheshire, his father in Neston and his mother (Lizzie) in Willaston.  They married in Liverpool in 1892 and had 14 children, one of whom died young. Arthur was the eldest; he had four brothers:  Walter, Thomas, James, and George, and eight sisters: Amy, Florence, Ethel, Norah, Nellie, Marjorie, Edna, and Elsie. Arthur was baptised on 26th August 1893 in Willaston.

 

In 1901 their address is ‘Back of Institute’, Willaston.  His father is listed as a fireman (stationary boilers, smelting works). They have four children and a boarder; Arthur is 7.

 

In 1911 the family, with nine children, are living at at 6 Hadlow Terrace, Willaston.  His father Thomas, 36, is a stationary engineman, his mother is 36, Arthur is 17, an assistant factory office clerk. Amy is 16, Florence 14, Ethel 10, Norah 9, Nellie 7, Walter 5, Thomas 4, and Marjorie 1.  Two sons and two daughters were born after the census.

 

Arthur enlisted at St George's Hall in Liverpool on 2nd September 1914, as Private 17804, joining the 19th (Pals) Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 21 years and 94 days, and his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 4” tall, weighing 128 lbs, with a sallow complexion, blue eyes, and brown hair. His physical development is described as excellent.  He gives his next of kin as his father Thomas, at 6 Hadlow Terrace.

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. Arthur shipped to France with his battalion from Folkestone, disembarking at Boulogne on 7th November 1915.  Arthur survived the Battle of the Somme and Passchendaele.

His service records show:

 

2/9/1916 granted Good Conduct Badge

24/7/1917 granted leave to the U.K.

6/8/1917 rejoined unit

27/8/1917 to Second Army Cookery School. 

19/9/1917 rejoined unit

14/5/1918 joined Infantry Base Depot, Etaples

30/5/1918 posted to 13th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. 

 

Arthur was killed in action on 21st August 1918, near Arras, and buried in a small burial ground.  After the war, when graves were concentrated, Arthur’s body was exhumed and reburied in Douchy-Les-Ayette British Cemetery, Pas de Calais at plot II.D.3 

The 13th Bn War Diary for August 1918 records -

Part of the 9th Brigade 3rd Army advance on Bapaume August 21st – 24th

20th August – Bivouacked at Hannescamp. At 11 p.m. the battalion moved to assembly positions. Intermittent shelling of assembly area.

21st August – At Zero Hour 4:55 a.m. the battalion moved forward in a thick mist exacerbated by smoke cloud to cover tanks. Direction was extremely difficult. The troops never hesitated even though nothing could be seen of their objective or of the troops on their flanks. Several strong points were encountered, but were outflanked with Lewis Gun and rifle fire. ‘C’ Company on the right had no tank assisting but advanced in short rushes on the machine guns. Enemy heavy artillery was active throughout the day. The men suffered heavy casualties from exposure of the right flank.

Total casualties during the operation – 3 Officers Killed, including 2nd Lt. J.B. Friend, 263 Other Ranks. Of those other ranks were  Arthur Cottrell, Charles Napier Mitchell, Henry Pemberton, Andrew Pinder,  Herbert Cunningham Wands, William Watson and Robert Tudwal Williams who were all former Liverpool Pals. 

Arthur now rests at Douchy Les Ayette British Cemetery:

Douchy-les-Ayette was in German occupation from October, 1914 to the 21st March, 1917. In March, 1918, the enemy advanced as far as the Communal Cemetery, and held it for a few days. The village was never completely evacuated by the inhabitants. It contained a German Cemetery of 380 graves, now removed.

The British Cemetery was begun in August and September, 1918, by the 3rd Division Burial Officer; and the 81 graves then made are scattered among eight Rows in what are now Plots II and IV. It was enlarged after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields of Arras and the Ancre and from other burial grounds. 

There are now over 700, 1914-18 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, nearly one-third are unidentified and a special memorial is erected to an officer of the Lincolns believed to be buried among them.

Certain graves in Plot I, Row A and B, identified collectively but not individually, are marked by headstones bearing the additional words: "Buried near this spot...".

The Cemetery covers an area of 2,418 square metres and is enclosed by a rubble wall.

Arthur's death was reported in the local press:

Corpl. R. Cottrell of the Heavy Car Battalion of the Mechanical Transport, forwards the following information about his son, Pte Arthur Cottrell, of the King's Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action in France on August 1st 1918. Pte Cottrell, who joined the Liverpool "Pals" when they were formed in September 1914, was 24 years of age. He went to France a year after enlistment and was with the "Pals" until they were broken up, and the remnants drafted into other regiments. Pte Cottrell was transferred to the King's Liverpool's as a Lewis gunner before the outbreak of war. He was employed as a Clerk by the Gum Trogasol Supply Company, Hooton, which place he had worked at since leaving school. He was a very promising member of Wirral Harriers, and in 1914 won the sealed handicap in a 6 mile cross-country run. He has three sisters who have been on national service work for the past two years. His home was at 6 Hadlow Terrace, Hadlow Road, Willaston.

Arthur’s family announced his death in the Liverpool Daily Post on 20th September 1918:

“August 21, killed in action, aged 24 years, Private Arthur Cottrell, Lewis Gunner, K.L.R., the eldest beloved son of Raymond and Lizzie, 6, Hadlow Terrace, Willaston. - Deeply mourned by all the Family. 

Arthur earned his three medals.  His father Thomas, still at Hadlow Terrace, received his effects, including a War Gratuity. His pension card does not indicate the amount awarded, if any.

 

In 1919 his parents provided information on Arthur’s living relatives:  sisters Amy, 23, and Florrie, 22, are in the Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps (WAAC) and sister Ethel, 19, is in the Women’s Land Army.  His nine younger siblings are still at home.  His father died in 1950, aged 76 and his mother in 1961, aged 86.