Name
William John Cogan
29 Nov 1883
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/11/1914
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
7383
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star (with Clasp & Roses), British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
LE TOURET MEMORIAL
Panel 10 and 11.
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
The Church of St Mary the Virgin Memorial, Albury, St Mary the Virgin Village Memorial, Furneux Pelham, There is no memorial at Albury End
Pre War
William Cogan was born on 29 Nov 1883 at Collingbourne, Wilts in 1884 (his age in army records is incorrect). He was the son of William Cogan, a gardener, and Louisa Ann (nee Burris) and was the eldest of four brothers.
In 1901 William was recorded as a domestic groom and had moved with the family to Furneux Pelham. On the 1911 Census he is recorded as serving in 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regt as a Private. He married Eleanor Smith at Aldershot, on 12 May 1913 while still a Corporal, Suffolk Regt. (Eleanor was Percy Smith’s eldest sister and he is named on Albury End Memorial).
It is not clear when he transferred to the Bedfordshire Regiment but his and Alfred's service numbers are just 246 apart.
Wartime Service
He enlisted or perhaps, more accurately re-enlisted, in Bishop Stortford into the 1st Bn. Bedfordshire Regt as private 7383 and arrived in France 16 Aug 1914 and presumably he gained the rank of Sergeant because of his previous service in the Army.
The 1st Bn had joined the Expeditionary Force at Mons and fought there and during the retreat at Le Cateau, and the Marne, the Aisne and Le Bassee.
On 7th November 1914 they were in positions at Ypres when during a German attack, 147 men were killed. William was killed in this action near Herenthage Chateau, Ypres.
Additional Information
Brother Alfred James, also a Sergeant in 1st Beds was killed on the same day in the same action.
Two other brothers, Charles and Philip, served. Charles survived but Philip was killed on 13 March 1915 They served with the 2nd Bedfords.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
