Name
JOSEPH COOTE
17/06/1891
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/10/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
CH/16344
Royal Marine Light Infantry
1st R.M. Bn. R.N. Div.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
COUIN BRITISH CEMETERY
IV. C. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
He has no family inscription on his Headstone.
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Joseph COOTE was born in Waltham Abbey, Essex, on 17th June 1891, son of Joseph John Coote, a Rifle Worker at the Royal Small Arms Factory, and Catherine Coote (nee Lees). One of seven children although two died in infancy.
1901 Census records Joseph Jr. aged 9, living with his parents, brothers Oswald (12), Leslie (5) and sister Catherine (2) at Gladstone Cottage, Oakhurst Road, Enfield, Middx.
In October 1908 Joseph Jr. enlisted in the Royal Marine Battalion, Royal Naval Division, Royal Marine Light Infantry, at Chatham, Kent, issued with the service number CH/16344.
His father Joseph John Coote died in July 1909, aged 50.
No 1911 Census for Joseph Jr. was found. His widowed mother Catherine, brothers, Leslie (15), Thomas (5) and sister Catherine (12) are still living in Gladstone Cottage, Oakhurst Road, Freezywater, Waltham Cross, Herts. (Now recorded as Waltham Cross).
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Joseph was still serving with the Royal Maine Light infantry. We believe Joseph was in Mudros and Gallipoli for a short time and from there to the Western Front.
He received a Gun Shot Wound on 23rd October 1916 and died later in the day. At the time of his death, he was in the Hamel Sector during the Battle of the Somme (Battle of the Somme 1st July – 18th November 1916). Joseph is buried in the Couin British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France, Grave Reference; IV. C. I.
Additional Information
His mother Catherine Coote received a dependents pension of 5/- a week from 26th April 1917.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
