Name
Bertie Thomas Coster
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
06/02/1918
25
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Driver
890576
Royal Field Artillery
52 D.A.C.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Dagnall Street Baptist Church, St Albans,
Leavesden Village Memorial,
Leavesden Green Village Memorial,
We are not aware of any memorial in Garston
Pre War
Bertie Thomas was the second son of Edward and Eva (nee WARNER) COSTER. His parents had married 2 Oct 1887 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s, Herts. Edward died 21 Dec 1941 in Watford aged 76; Eva died 17 Feb 1955 in Bricket Wood, Herts, aged 88. Bertie was born 1892 in St Alban’s, and baptised 28 Aug 1892 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s. On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he was living in Leavesden, with his parents and four siblings, Harry, Annie, Thomas and George.
He attested as Driver 668 in 2nd Herts Battery, Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force on 15 Oct 1913 in Watford.
A newpaper report confirms his parents and that he and his three brothers were from Garston Cottage, Waterdale, Garston.
Wartime Service
On the outbreak of the Great War he was still serving with 2nd Herts Battery. His service number was amended later to 890576, and he was appointed as Shoeing Smith on 5 Aug 1914, his date of embodiment.
He was awarded three days detention for disobeying orders and reverted to Driver on 4 Jun 1915. He served at Home until 16 Nov 1915 when he embarked from Southampton on 17 Nov 1915, arriving in Le Havre the following day. He served with the B.E.F. in France until 3 Feb 1916 and embarked from Marseilles 4 Feb 1916 for the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, arriving Alexandria 10 Feb 1916 to join 273 Brigade RFA. On 1 Mar 1917 he was posted as Driver to 272 Brigade Ammunition Column.
On 8 Jul 1917 he was posted to 52 Division Ammunition Column. He was admitted to 1/3 Low Field Ambulance 23 Aug 1917 with bronchitis; admitted to 19 General Hospital, Alexandria, 27 Aug 1917; and invalided to England on board Kalyon 23 Oct 1917. Bertie was admitted to New End Military Hospital, Hampstead, London, 5 Nov 1917 and discharged 24 Nov 1917.
He was officially discharged from the Army 6 Dec 1917 as physically unfit for service, with a tubercle of the lungs, the Medical Board’s verdict being that although the condition originated in 1914, it was attributable to and aggravated by service during the present war due to prolonged strain and exposure; the Board recommended he enter a sanatorium.
He was awarded a pension of 27/6 per week, and was entitled to the Silver War Badge issued 7 Dec 1917. Bertie died on 6 Feb 1918 and was buried 16 Feb 1918 at All Saints, Leavesden, aged 25; he lived in Garston.
Additional Information
Bertie does not appear in the CWGC records. War Gratuity and Effects of £15 10s was paid to his Father.
Brothers Harry served with 6 Battalion Northants Regiment and died on 19 Feb 1917 ; Edward served with London Regiment and Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers being killed in action on 25 Oct 1918; Thomas served in the Labour Corps 22601 and survived.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Gareth Hughes, (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
