Pte 20141 William Edward Cottrell

• Age: 20
• From: Manchester
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Thursday 10th October 1918
• Commemorated at: Highland Cem Le Cateau
  Panel Ref: VI.C.17

William Edward Cottrell was born in the December quarter of 1897 in Chorlton, Manchester, the son of Edward Cottrell and his wife Emily (nee Howell). His parents married in 1896.

The 1901 Census shows the family living at 10 Poynton Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester. His father, Edward, is aged 25, born 1876 in Chorley, occupation barman in a club, his mother, Emily, is aged 25 born 1876 in Manchester. They have two children William aged 3, born 1898 and Emily aged 2, born 1899. 

His sister Emily sadly died in the December quarter of 1901, aged 3.

Subsequent records would indicate mother and father went separate ways but remained married as on the 1911 Census,  his father is found att 10 Poynton Street, living with the Giles family. He is aged 35, a hotel worker and married, but there is no sign of his wife or son.

William enlisted on the 05th September 1914 in Manchester and gave his age as 20 years and 1 month, (It would appear he has lied about his age as he was only aged 16 and 9 months when he enlisted), he gave his occupation as a barman. He was five feet six and half inches tall, weighed 118lbs, fresh complexion, grey eyes, brown hair and gave his religion as Roman Catholic.  

He was posted to the 14th Battalion on the 16th September 1914 Private No 20141.

His Military History Sheet shows:

Home: 5.9.14-3.9.15
B.E.F : 4.9.15-28.10.15
M.E.F : 29.10.15-18.6.18
Voyage: 19.06.18-25.06.18
B.E.F : 26.06.18-10.10.18 

His service record shows:

23.05.15: Absent without leave 12 midnight 23rd May till 10.30 am 27th May 1915. Fined four days pay and confined to barracks for four days.

28.10.15; Embarked for the Balkans.

14.09.16: Admitted to 28 CCS.

15.09.16: 28 General Hospital.

13.10.16: Rejoined unit in the field.

24.10.16: Admitted to 67 Field Ambulance.

25.10.16: Admitted to 43 General Hospital, Salonika.

6.11.16: Transfer-  Malaria. 

15.11.16: Admitted to 29th ...Hospital

5.12.16: Transferred to Hospital Ship "Panama" with malaria.

9.12.16: Admitted to 17th General Hospital, Alexandria.

21.12.16: Admitted Red Cross Hospital. 

5.1.17: Discharged to duty.

11.1.17: Embarked for Salonica.

16.01.17: Joined IBD at Salonica.

27.02.17: Wounded.(shell wounds) admitted 1st Can Hospital?

28.02.7: Transferred.

15.03.17: To company depot.

4.4.17: To Summerhill Camp.

11.4.17: to No2 Entrenching battalion.

30.04.17: Wounded in action.

1.5.17: 31 Casualty Clearing Station. severely wounded. transferred to 43 General Hospital Salonica 5th Canadian?

31.07.17: Transferred to 65th Gen with gunshot wound to left thigh.

8.8.17: 2nd Base depot

31.08.17: Rejoined unit.

6.12.17: Admitted to 31 CCS (neck).

8.1.18-10.1.18: 52 General Hospital.

19.1.18: Joined base depot.

23.01.18: Rejoined unit.

27.07.18: Attached 542 .... as groom.

31.8.18: Transferred to 18th Battalion.

His father wrote a letter to the authorities dated 15th November 1915

Dear Sir,

Would you be kind enough to let me know the whereabouts of my son who we have not heard from for some time Pte W Cottrell 20141 Platoon 14, D Company 22 Division K L R
Yours Respectfully
E Cottrell

He wrote a further letter dated January 17th 1916 

Dear Sir, 
Having not heard from my son for the last 2 1/2 months could you oblige if you know anything of his welfare or health, forward it to the above address I have put his address above. Yours sincerely 
Edward Cottrell.

A reply was sent 19.01.16 stating no casualty reported. 

William was killed in action on the 10^th October 1918, aged 20, during the hundred days offensive which ended the First World War (8^th August-11^th November 1918).

On 7th October 1918 the 18th Bn arrives at the Hindenburg Line and pursues the retreating German army.  The battalion War Diary records -  

10th October 1918 - At 0230 hours the battalion moved forward to a position near RUEMONT, and attacked towards LE CATEAU at 0510.  Very little opposition was met with at the start but later considerable M.G. fire was encountered. …  Our right company was not in touch with the flank, and the troops on the right appeared to be held up by M.G. fire from the railway embankment … A short length of trench on the high ground immediately E. of LE CATEAU was also reported to be held by the enemy.  At 0848 the Centre Coy reached K.33.b and pushed a platoon into the N. W. outskirts of LE CATEAU.  The right company was temporarily held up by MG and sniper fire, but appeared to be almost in the town itself.  Hostile M.G. fire was reported from the direction of Q.10. … Houses in K.28.a were reported to be strongly held by the Bosche, and a patrol was sent out to investigate and deal with them. … During the advance on LE CATEAU considerable difficulty was experienced, owing to a “whizz bang” battery being able to fire over open sights at the troops as they moved up the rise and along a slight valley.

Total Casualties from 7th to 13th October:

Killed – 2 Officers, 18 O.R.

Wounded – 6 Officers, 111 O.R.

Died of Wounds – 1 O.R.

Wounded and Missing – 1 Officer, 20 O.R.

It was sometime before confirmation of his death as he was reported as killed in the local newspaper on 25th February 1919. 

Wiliam Edward now rests at Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France.

The CWGC Graves Registration form shows that after the war William’s body was found, buried with Pte. George Beresford, both identified as belonging to the 14th Bn K.L.R.  Pte. Beresford died the same day. Their grave was marked with a cross and after the war their bodies were removed and reinterred in Highland Cemetery.

After the Battle of Le Cateau (26 August 1914), the town remained in German hands until the middle of October 1918. The original cemetery (Plot III) was made by the 50th (Northumbrian) Division after the fighting of 17 October; the name of Highland Cemetery is suggestive at once of the comparatively high ground on which it stands and of the 32 graves of the 13th (Scottish Horse) Battalion, Black Watch, found in this plot. The cemetery was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when graves of October and November 1918 were brought in from isolated positions on all sides of Le Cateau. Highland Cemetery now contains 624 First World War burials. The cemetery was designed by Charles Holden.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to father Edward only.

Father Edward is on the 1939 register at 98 Denmark Rd, Manchester. Born July 13th 1875, married, and a retired hotel waiter.

Mother Emily is also on the register living at 71 Barkerend Rd, Bradford with younger brother Joseph Horatio Howell and his wife Clara J. Emily was born 5th Oct 1975, married, a hat and cap machinist.

His mother died in the March quarter of 1947, aged 70, her death registered in Bradford.

His father died in the June quarter of 1949, aged 73, his death registered in Manchester.

We currently have no further information on William Edward Cottrell, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.