Pte 50228 Edward Bernard Leeming Cottam

• Age: 33
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Saturday 4th August 1917
• Commemorated at: Zantvoorde Brit Cem
  Panel Ref: III.J.15

Edward Bernard Leeming Cottam was born in the June quarter of 1884 in Manchester, the son of William Cottam and his wife Annie (nee Harle). His parents married in 1882 in Chorlton on Medlock.

The 1911 Census shows the family living at 51 Russell Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. His father William is aged 55, born 1856 in Blackburn is a laundry agent, whilst his mother  Annie is aged 50, born 1861 in Leeds no occupation is listed. They have been married for twenty nine years and have had ten children. Those declared in the household are; Edward aged 26, is a tailor’s cutter, Mary aged 24 born 1887 is a tailor’s machinist and both were both in Manchester, Winifred aged 22, born 1889 also a tailor’s machinist and Constance aged 20, born 1891 is a teacher, both were born in Blackpool.  Monica aged 18, born 1893 at school, William aged 16, born 1895 is a junior clerk, Dorothy aged 14, born 1897 an apprentice dressmaker, Phyllis aged 11, born 1900 and Hilda aged 10 born 1901 are at school. The five youngest children were all born in Blackburn.

Prior to the outbreak of war he had been employed as a pattern maker and cutter at Bottomley's Ltd, King Street, Blackburn for 17 years.

Edward was conscripted on March 19^th 1917 in Blackburn and served originally as Private 37981, East Lancashire Regiment.

A small draft of East Lancashire Regiment soldiers who were conscripted in March 1917 "graduated" into the East Lancashire Regiment but did not serve overseas with that unit. The 15 recruits, all of similar background (East Lancashire Regimental numbers, age and geography) appear on an alpha-numeric list created at 30 IBD, Etaples in June 1917 where they received new numbers. Those with surnames A-L (became 50224-50258) and went to 17th Battalion King's (Liverpool Regiment) and those with surnames M-Z (became 50259-50293)

Edward was drafted to France on 06^th June 1917 and was serving in the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50228 when he was killed in action on the 04th August, 1917 aged 33 during the Third Battle of Ypres. 

The 17th Battalion Diary groups the action of the opening day of the offensive up to the relief of the Battalion on 04th August as follows: 

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August.  

Edward was one of those casualties referred to.

“R.I.P.”

Zantvoorde British Cemetery was made after the Armistice when remains were brought in from the battlefields and nearby German cemeteries. Many were those of soldiers who died in the desperate fighting round Zantvoorde, Zillebeke and Gheluvelt in the latter part of October 1914.

There are now 1,583 servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in the cemetery. 1,135 of the burials are unidentified. Special memorials commemorate 32 soldiers buried in two of the German cemeteries whose graves could not be found on concentration. The cemetery also contains one Second World War burial.The Household Cavalry Memorial, unveiled by Lord Haig in May 1924, stands on the South side of the village at the place where part of the Brigade was annihilated in 1914.

The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects to father William, Pension to mother Annie, 22 St Albans Place, Blackburn.

Edward is also remembered on the Blackburn Roll of Honour.

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