The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private C A Cottenham

Private Charles Alfred COTTENHAM, G/5043, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Flanders France, death assumed on or after, 22nd July 1916, age 36.

Born Speldhurst, Kent, son of Charles Alfred and Ellen Winifred Cottenham. Stepfather Walter Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent.

3rd January 1903, Sevenoaks, Kent, married Ellen Lucy Pickard, of Pike Fish, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent.

Children - Alfred J Cottenham, born 22nd June 1903; Ethel K Cottenham, born 13th October 1905; Victor C Cottenham, born 20th June 1909; Kenneth W Cottenham, 16th November 1910.

1911 Census - Prospect Row, Collier Street, Marden, Kent - Charles Alfred Cottenham, head, age 30, married, farm labourer, born Speldhurst, Kent; Ellen Lucy Cottenham, wife, age 40, married 8 years, 4 children, all still alive, born Ash Mill?, North Devon; Alfred John Cottenham, son, age 7, born Horsham, Sussex; Ethel Kathleen Cottenham, daughter, age 5, born Horsham, Sussex; Victor Charles Cottenham, son, age 1, born Yalding, Kent; Kenneth Cottenham, son, age 4 months, born Yalding, Kent.

Enlisted Maidstone, Kent, age 34, height 5ft 5 inches, weight 121lbs. Resided Pike Fish, Yalding, Maidstone, Kent. Formerly labourer.

Home 19th December 1914 to 28th April 1915; BEF 29th April 1915 to 22nd July 1916.

19th December 1914, enlisted; 20th December 1914, posted Depot, Royal West Kent Regiment; 21st December 1914, posted 3rd Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 14th February 1915, overstaying his pass from 12.00 midnight, 14th February 1915 until Tattoo 15th February 1915, admonished, forfeits one days pay; 29th April 1915, posted BEF & 1st Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment; 30th April 1915, 5 Infantry Base Depot; 3rd May 1915, joined Battalion, "C" Company; 22nd July 1916, posted wounded and missing.

26th March 1917, pension of 27/6 a week for widow and four children.

5th April 1920, Statement of Relatives - Widow, Ellen Lucy Cottenham, Pike Fish, Yalding; Children - Alfred J Cottenham, born 22nd June 1903, Pike Fish, Yalding; Ethel K Cottenham, born 13th October 1905, Pike Fish, Yalding; Victor C Cottenham, born 20th June 1909, Pike Fish, Yalding; Kenneth W Cottenham, 16th November 1910, Pike Fish, Yalding; Stepfather, Walter Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent; Mother, Eliza Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent; Half Brothers - George F Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent; Gareth? W Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent; Sisters - Mrs E Bishops, New Road, St Johns, Crowborough; Mrs P Pattenden, 29 Southwood Road, Rusthall; Half Sisters - May Childs, 1 Hanover Road, Tunbridge Wells; Emma Childs, Hall Borough Cottage, Penshurst, Kent.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.

This page was last updated on 01-Mar-2018.