Cotterill Arthur

Cotterill, Arthur

		Source
		CWGC	SDGW	Uttoxeter Advertiser	Other
Parents	Daniel and Fanny Cotterill	Yes
	Daniel Cotterill			7a 7b	8
	Mr. & Mrs. D. Cotterill			7d
	Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Cotterill				6
Where born	Uttoxeter		Yes		1h 9a
When born	About 1896				1h
When born	About 1897				5
Address	Kingstone, Staffordshire		Yes		6
	Parents: Willslock, Staffordshire			7a 7c
	Wall Heath (parents)			7b
	Parents (later): Scounslow Green, Uttoxeter	Yes
	Loxley Green			7c
Spouse
Children
Employment Before Joining up	General Farm Labourer				1h
Where enlisted	Lichfield, Staffordshire		Yes
Regiment	South Staffordshire	Yes	Yes	7a 7b	6
Regiment	Army Service Corps				8a
Battalion	8th Bn	Yes
Battalion	8th Service Bn		Yes		6
Rank	Private	Yes	Yes	7b 7v 7d	6
Rank	Lance Corporal				9a
Service Number	13896	Yes	Yes		6
Date of Death	31 March 1915	Yes	Yes	7c 7d	6
Age at time of death	18	Yes		7b
Where Killed or died	England – Dorchester County Hospital, Wool			7b
Where Killed or died	Dorchester Hospital			7d	6 8a
How he died	Accident while training			7d	6
	Kicked over the left temple by a horse			7b
	Kicked in the face by a horse and died later from Meningitis.				9a
Location of Grave or Memorial	North of the Chancel in Kingstone (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, Staffordshire	Yes			4
Awards

Arthur was the eldest son of Fanny and Daniel Cotterill8. His father was a Roadman8 and in 1901 Arthur was one of five children living with their parents 8.

In the 1901 Census the family were living in Bromley Road8, their neighbours being Top Farm8 and Wall Heath8.

By the time of the 1911 Census Arthur’s parents were living in South Cottage, Willslock8. Daniel was a Roadman8 and there were 11 children at home8. The 1911 Census1h also shows that Arthur was fifteen years old and living with his employer, John Bull, at Leese Hill, Kingstone, Uttoxeter. He was described as a Servant and General Farm Labourer. His employer was a Dairy Farmer and Arthur’s sister, Maud, was also with him, working in the house8.

In September 1914, very soon after the outbreak of war, he joined the South Staffordshire Regiment6, 7a, 7b as a Private, Number 13896 in the 8th Service Battalion. He was initially stationed at Lichfield7a, 7b.

Eventually, the Regiment was sent to Wool, in Dorsetshire7b and it was while he was there on transport duties that he was kicked over the left temple by a horse7b.

The Surrey Mirror and County Post elaborated by stating that he was kicked in the face and later died from Meningitis9b. As Arthur’s service record did not survive the Blitz of the Second World War, we have not been able to establish which account is correct.

He died in Dorchester County Hospital7b at just 18 years old7b, 9a. Fortunately, his commanding officer had contacted his parents in time and they both managed to visit him in hospital before he died7b. The obituary in the Uttoxeter Advertiser7b reported the fact that this commanding officer showed the greatest consideration to Arthur’s parents.

Captain H. Chesterman, of the Army Service Corps in Winfrith, Dorset, wrote a sympathetic letter to Arthur’s parents, The Uttoxeter Advertiser quoted part of it in an obituary. In the letter, Captain Chesterman spoke of Private Cotterill as a fine fellow, always obedient and willing to do whatever was asked of him, and his officers and comrades were deeply sorry that he had been taken away so suddenly. He also went on to say, “These are times when very few homes are not saddened by some grievous loss, and we all realise that your boy gave his life serving his country just as much as if he had given it in France.”

On 6th April 19157b, 7d, Arthur was buried in the pretty little churchyard of St. John the Baptist Church in Kingstone.

Arthur was greatly mourned by his family and they posted a number of very touching memorial notices in the Uttoxeter Advertiser on the anniversaries of his death:

COTTERILL. – In Ever Loving Memory of our dear Son and Brother (Private) Arthur Cotterill, late of Loxley Green, who died March 31, 1915.

Oft our thoughts and footsteps wander

To a grave not far away,

Where they laid our dearest brother

Just a year ago to-day.

Ever remembered by Father and Mother, Brothers and Sisters, and all at Willslock.

COTTERILL. – In Ever Loving Memory of Pte. Arthur Cotterill, the dearly-loved son of Mr. And Mrs. D. Coterill [sic], of Scounslow Green, Uttoxeter, who died at Dorchester Hospital, March 31, 1915, as a result of an accident while training. – Interred at Kingstone, April 6, 1915.

When alone in our sorrow, and bitter tears flow,

There steals a sweet dream of the days long ago,

And unknown to the world he stands by our side

And whispers, “Dear parents, death cannot divide.”

Ever remembered by all at home and brother-in-law and cousins on active service.

This tribute was posted in March 19167c to commemorate the first anniversary of his death

The second anniversary was marked in 19177d in this way: