Name
Alfred Henry Cottee
about Aug 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
28/03/1918
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
24838
Northamptonshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
POZIERES MEMORIAL
Panel 54 to 56.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Eastwick War Memorial
Pre War
Alfred Henry Cottee was born in Harlow, Essex in 1884. He was the son of Alfred and Sarah Cottee.
In 1911, he was living with his Mother, Step-Father, John Brown, and younger brother at Burnt Mill Corner, High Wych, while working as a Farm Labourer.
Wartime Service
On the 21st March 1918, the 7th Battalion Northants were in support near the village of Jeancourt, France, when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. By the 27th March they had been driven back to Meharicourt and were holding the line when the Germans managed to enter their trench with a bombing party, they had no bombs themselves, but managed to hold up the Germans by building a block in the trench. At 2am on the 28th they carried out a silent withdrawal and then spent the rest of the day retiring, while continuously under machine-gun fire, finally ending the day at Castel Wood.
It was during this period that Alfred was wounded and died on 28 Mar 1918. His remains were not recovered and he is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial.
Additional Information
Brother Percy M Cottee joined 3rd battalion Essex Regiment Aug 1914, went to France 10 May 1915 receiving a GSW to the thigh 10 Aug 1915 from which he was invalided out the Army in 1916.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Anthony Hodgkins
