Name
Elijah Howard Cotton
1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/08/1918
27
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
G/22238
The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. R. 12
France
Headstone Inscription
Elijah has no family inscription on his Headstone
UK & Other Memorials
Letchworth Town Memorial, Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, We are not aware of any memorial in Gosmore
Pre War
Elijah Howard Cotton was born in 1887, in Hitchin, He was the second son of Edward Cotton (1859-1938) a Bricklayer and Harriet Cotton (nee Howard). One of ten children, two of which died in infancy.
Elijah was Baptised at St Mary’s Church, Hitchin on 4th December 1887, at the time the family were living in Telegraph Terrace, Hitchin.
1891 Census records Elijah aged 3, living with his parents, sister Susie 10, and brother Henry 10 months, in Highbury Hill, Hitchin.
1901 Census records Elijah aged 13, and working as a Drapers Errand Boy, living with his parents and five siblings, at 30 Union Road, Hitchin.
In the early part of 1911 Elijah Married Emma Jane King of Gosmore, Hitchin, Herts. The 1911 Census records them as being Married for one month and living in Maidencroft Lane, Gosmore, Herts, and Elijah was working as a Plumbers Labourer.
Elijah was resident in Letchworth and enlisted in Hitchin in April 1917. Before he was called up, he was employed at the Dacre Works in Letchworth. Worked as a plumber’s labourer.
He was married to Emma Jane King of Gosmore, Hitchin, Herts. (later Slater) they had one child, Ivy May Cotton born on 22nd December 1915, the family were living in Paddock Close, Hitchin.
Wartime Service
He was given the Regimental Number G/22238 and was posted to the 6th Battalion of the East Kent Regiment, which was in the 37th Brigade of the 12th Division of III Corps in the 4th Army.
He went to France in June 1917 and was killed in action in France. On the 24th August the 37th Brigade moved just to the south of Albert towards Meaulte and captured a strongpoint known as ‘Pear Tree’. By the 25th August the Brigade was east of Mametz and on the 26th August had cleared Carnoy. Further advances were made on the 27th August but the fighting was continuous and the artillery fire severe. He was one of 11 men killed in action whilst clearing East end of Trones Wood, died of gunshot wound.
He was buried in Plot 1, Row R, Grave I in the Albert Communal Cemetery Extension in France.
Additional Information
Wreath on cenotaph in 1919 "in loving memory of my dear brother". The value of his effects were £5-2s-4d, Pay Owing and £5-10s-0d, War Gratuity which went to his widow Emma. Emma was awarded a Widows Pension of 20/5 a week from 17th March 1919.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
