Part 51

=COSTIN, BRUCE DUFFUS=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regt., only _s._ of John Duffus Costin, of New South Wales, and his wife, Adele (now wife of Walter Hobson, of Tan-y-bryn, Bangor); _b._ Strathfield, New South Wales, 20 June, 1889; educ. Bedford and Sandhurst; received his commission in the West Yorkshires, 18 Sept. 1909, and was promoted Lieut. 16 April, 1910. He died in hospital at Boulogne, 24 Oct. 1914, from wounds received in action on 20 Oct. at the Battle of Ypres, and was buried in Boulogne Cemetery. His commanding officer wrote: “You know without my telling you what a favourite he was with all ranks of the regt. and how we shall all miss him. He had done splendidly throughout the war, and was invaluable to us. He was always cool and cheery under fire, quite fearless, and had done very well on the 20th under an appalling shell fire. He is a great loss in every way to the regt. and the mess, so keen on both work and play, and the Rugby team will be nothing without him.” And the Chaplain: “He was a splendid officer, and a splendid man. I had many opportunities for forming an estimate of his character, for I knew him well, and I know he was a man of highest qualities and ideals, brave, honourable, respected by all who knew him, and loved by his brother officers and men under his command. His loss is a loss to the whole Army, and the cutting off of a keen soldier, who had promise of a brilliant career.” Lieut. Costin was good at all sports, a splendid rider and a keen follower to hounds in the South Staffordshire country. He played Rugby for the college fifteen at Sandhurst and for Rosslyn Park, and was capt. of the regimental football team. At Sandhurst he was in the winning teams for rifle and revolver shooting, and for riding.

=COTTAM, HARRY FREDERICK=, E.R.A., 2nd Class, 271794, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTER, JOHN JOSEPH=, Leading Seaman, 194875, Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COTTINGHAM, HERBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6015), 210795, H.M.S. Aboukir lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTON, HENRY ALBERT=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26631, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=COTTON, PHILIP=, Private, No. 6746, 2nd Battn. Royal Irish Regt., _s._ of Thomas Cotton, Chimney Sweep; _b._ New Ross, co. Hereford, 1885; educ. there; served 13 years in the Royal Irish Regt. (India medal, 1895); re-enlisted after the outbreak of war, 21 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in the trenches by a flash of lightning, 22 May, 1915. He _m._ at New Ross, 20 May, 1907, Kate (2, Michael Street, New Ross), dau. of James Hennebury, of New Ross, and had three daus.: Anastatia, _b._ 1 Jan. 1908; Elizabeth, _b._ 1 Feb. 1912; and May, _b._ 27 Feb. 1915.

=COTTON, SIDNEY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5176), S.S. 1858, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COTTON, THOMAS FREDERICK=, Chief E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 149729 (Po.), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTRELL, GEORGE FREDERICK=, 2nd Lieut. 108th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., _s._ of George Anderson Cottrell, of Allandale, Sandon Road, Edgbaston, by his wife, Mary Agnes, dau. of the late Alexander Smith, of Bingley, Yorks.; _b._ West Bromwich, co. Stafford, 27 Oct. 1892; educ. Bromsgrove School and King Edward’s School, Birmingham, where he was Colour-Sergt. in the O.T.C., and was awarded the Coronation medal as the best all-round boy. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and there was senior Sergt., and won prizes for infantry training and military law. He received his commission, 18 July, 1913, and until the outbreak of the war was stationed in the Isle of Wight. In Sept. 1914, he left for the Front, and was attached to an ammunition column of the Indian Army, being posted to the 108th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., in Jan. 1915. He was killed in action at Ypres, 11 May, 1915, and was buried in a railed off piece of ground used as a war cemetery, in the grounds of the chateau of the Gold Fish, Ypres; _unm._ A stained glass window, subscribed for by his brother officers friends, was placed in the church used by the R.G.A. at Freshwater, I.W. Lieut. Cottrell was one of the “shop” fifteen while at Woolwich, and afterwards was a member of the United Services Football Club, and also played for the Army and three counties on various occasions.

=COTTRELL, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 7305, 1st Battn. Worcestershire Regt., _s._ of Edward Cottrell, Iron moulder, by his wife, Phoebe, dau. of Joseph Dean; _b._ Tipton, co. Staffs, 26 Oct. 1884; educ. Council Schools there; enlisted 6 Nov. 1902, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10–13 March, 1915; _unm._

=COTTRELL, WILLIAM GEORGE=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 5209), 303575, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COUCH, HERBERT WILLIAM=, Engineer Lieut.-Commander, R.N., 4th _s._ of James Couch, Major, late 2nd North Staffordshire Regt., by his wife, Helen, dau. of William Hollis; _b._ Malta, 3 Sept. 1879; educ. Mile End House School, Portsmouth, and Keyham College, Devonport. Entering the Navy in 1905 he was promoted Lieut.-Commander in Aug. 1913, and appointed in July, 1914, to H.M.S. Good Hope, on which he was killed in action, off the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. following. Engineer Lieut.-Commander Couch had the Messina medal. He _m._ at Portsmouth, 18 Dec. 1906, Edith Cecila (Grace’s Farm, Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hants), dau. of the late Richard King, Royal Mail Contractor, and had a son and dau.: Richard John Hollis, _b._ 16 Nov. 1907; and Cecile Mary, _b._ 12 Nov. 1909.

=COULL, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Leading Shipwright, 347244, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COULSON, JOHN=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./17211, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=COULTART, WILLIAM PERCY=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 16961, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COUNTER, WILLIAM GILL=, Private, R.M.L.I., 13098 (R.F.R., B. 1831), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COUPER, WALTER=, Private, No. 9128, 4th Coy., 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 2nd _s._ of William Clark Couper, of 36, St. Mary’s Road, Watford, Herts, Police Constable, by his wife, Harriet, dau. of Henry Gulliver; _b._ Kensington, W., 24 March, 1892; educ. St. James’ School, Norlands, Notting Hill; joined the 1st Battn. Herts Regt. (T.F.) in May, 1909, and enlisted in the Coldstreams, 7 June, 1911; served three years with the Colours, and then passed into the Reserve, from which he was called on the outbreak of war. He went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, and died in No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne, 10 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action on the 2nd. He was buried in Boulogne Cemetery (Grave No. c/19). A comrade wrote: “On 1 Nov. Corporal Palmer was wounded in the arm, and Walter took him to hospital. Walter did not come back till mid-day on Monday, the 2nd. I met him in the communication trench, and he had two letters for some one in another platoon. The Sergt. of this other platoon was behind him, so he had to turn round in the trench. The trench being rather narrow he had to show his head above the top. No sooner did his head show above the trench when a German sniper shot, and the bullet cut the side of his head where he had a bald patch. I obtained help at once, and our machine gun officer bound the wound up for him. He was then taken away on a stretcher. On 23 Oct. our platoon held a line of trenches from which the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) had retired. It was open ground, and the bullets were whizzing over us pretty rapid. About 80 yards in front of us lay a fellow of the Queen’s, badly wounded. Seeing that he couldn’t crawl in, Couper ran out to him, cut his equipment off, and with the help of Corpl. Palmer, who had run out afterwards, got the wounded fellow on his back. He then carried him in by himself. There were only a few of us who saw this, and hardly any one else heard about it. There are a good many brave actions done out here which nobody hears about. I think if any one deserves the D.C.M. it is Private Couper.” His elder brother, Corpl. W. F. Couper, 4th Middlesex Regt., was taken prisoner at the Battle of Mons, and is now (1916) confined at Senneläger.

=COUPLAND, HENRY=, Lieut., 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Henry Coupland, of Stonewell, Lancaster, V.D., 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., now commanding the National Reserves at Lewes, Sussex, by his wife, Lilliere, dau. of Charles Innocent; _b._ Lancaster, 15 Dec. 1894; educ. Royal Lancaster Grammar School; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., 1 Jan. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 2 Dec. following; served in France and Flanders, and died from wounds received in action, near Ypres, at the Clearing Station, Bailleul, 24 April, 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the cemetery at Bailleul.

=COURCOUX, WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2879), S.S. 196, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COURT, CHARLES=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 9663), 297567, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COURT, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Chief Armourer, 340995, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COURT, WILLIAM HUBERT ROYLANCE (ALGY)=, Capt., 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, only _s._ of William Roylance Court, of Manor House, Middlewich, co. Chester, J.P., Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Mary Carlaw, eldest dau. of Sir Andrew Barclay Walker, 1st Bart., of Osmaston Manor, co. Derby; _b._ Osmaston Manor, aforesaid, 26 Sept. 1885; educ. Wixenford Preparatory School and at Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Royal Garrison Artillery Militia to the 9th Lancers, 6 July, 1907; became Lieut. 4 March, 1910, and Capt. 23 April, 1913, and was for a lengthy period stationed with his regt. at Potchefstroom, South Africa. When the war broke out in August the 9th Lancers were at Mooltan Barracks, Tidworth, from whence they proceeded direct to France, being among the first contingent of the British Army to take part in the fighting in Belgium. It will be remembered that in the early stages of the war in particular the 9th Lancers did splendid work, and in his letters home Capt. Roylance Court related some stirring incidents. About Dec. he was wounded in the foot by shrapnel, and after being in hospital for a short time came home for a few days. On 24 May, 1915 (the day he fell), Capt. Roylance Court was second in command of B Squadron, the senior officer being Capt. Francis O. Grenfell, V.C. The force occupied trenches near Hooge, some 60 to 80 yards from those of the enemy. Capt. Court was in the act of communicating by telephone with the Base regarding the enemy’s gas attack and the general situation, when he was shot through the head and killed instantly. Capts. Grenfell, Noel Edwards and many men fell that day. The Adjutant of the 9th Lancers, when writing to a friend some time after the 24th, referred to the incidents and said: “It certainly was a bad day, but the regt. came out with much praise from everybody. This is some consolation to us for the loss of a great many friends, and in spite of losses the reputation of the regt. increases. ‘Algy’ did a particularly gallant thing on the day he was killed. When reinforcements were required he went down from the fire trenches through a terrific shell fire (any messengers we sent on this day were killed or wounded) and led up a company of the Buffs, showed them where they were wanted. They suffered severely on the way, having to cross about 2,000 yards of very open ground, which was swept by an absolute curtain of shell fire.” Capt. Roylance Court was buried during the night after the battle in the churchyard at Vlamertinghe, in Flanders, close to the grave of Capt. Grenfell, whose remains were interred at the same time. He was a very capable officer and a thorough sportsman, and when on leave was a familiar figure in the Cheshire Hunt, of which his father was joint-Master for four years. He was an enthusiastic polo player, and won several point-to-point races for his regt. and several of his friends. Golf was another sport of which he was very fond.

=COURTIS, ERNEST GEORGE=, Chief Gunner, R.N., _s._ of James Courtis, Engine Fitter, by his wife, Mary Catherine, dau. of Walter Perry Jenkins; _b._ Cornwall, 3 March, 1873; educ. St. James’ School, Keyham, Devonport; joined the Navy, 7 Dec. 1888, and reached Warrant rank, 1 Nov. 1898. He served on the Algerine during the Boxer rebellion in China, 1900, being Gunnery Officer of that ship during the bombardment of the Taku Forts. In the latter part of the engagement the starboard after 3-pr. quick-firing gun recoiled off the netting, fracturing almost all the small parts of the machinery and breech mechanism. He remounted it in a position (from which it was effectively used) in the Captain’s cabin in less than 15 minutes. Later, having observed a line of electric observation mines ahead, he put off in a dinghy with one man, and personally performed the dangerous service of destroying five of the mines by cutting wires, removing detonators and primers, and sinking the mines, thus probably saving many lives. He was subsequently landed in charge of two of the ship’s 4-inch quick-firing guns, and accompanied them to the Tientsin lines, where they were urgently required to outrange the enemy; afterwards took one gun some 4 miles from the supports and base and mounted it under a brisk shell fire, continuing in command of that gun during the remainder of the bombardment and capture of Tientsin City. At Sin-Ho he was appointed Transport Officer, which post he held for four months and was promoted Chief Gunner 1 Nov. 1913. He had the China medal (1900) with two bars. Chief Gunner Courtis lost his life on the occasion of the sinking of H.M.S. Clan McNaughton, 3 Feb. 1915. He _m._ at Belmont Wesleyan Church, Devonport, 12 Feb. 1900, Gertrude, dau. of Charles Montague, and had a son and dau.: Geoffrey Ernest Montague, _b._ 2 April, 1907; and Gertrude Ellen Mary, _b._ 1 Sept. 1904.

=COURTNEY, JOHN HENRY=, _alias_ =JOHN HENRY ALFRED ADKINS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9614), S.S. 106961, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _unm._

=COUSENS, ARTHUR=, Seaman, R.N.R., 2403C, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COUSINS, JAMES=, Private, No. 8490, 2nd Battn. Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, _s._ of William Cousins, of Lurgan, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Robert Guiney; _b._ Dollingstown, Lurgan, co. Down ..., March, 1892; educ. National School there; enlisted 1 Jan. 1906; served two years in China, and was killed in action at the Battle of the Aisne, 7 Sept. 1914; _unm._ On that evening the Inniskillings went out to take up an outpost line. Just before they reached the Ferme de la Grande Lodge they met a small force of Uhlans, which they drove off and closed up again, not suspecting that any more of the enemy were near, and while in close order two batteries opened fire at 1,200 yards. The company was immediately formed for attack, but the enemy’s fire was terrific for a short time, and it was here that Lieut. Boyd and Private Cousins fell. They were buried that night in a corner of a field in which the farmhouse of La Ferme des Arceries stands.

=COVER, FRANK=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 41, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=COWAN, ANDREW GALBRAITH=, Major, 74th Punjabis, Indian Army, 2nd _s._ of the late Hugh Cowan, Advocate, Sheriff Substitute of Renfrew and Bute, by his wife, Williamina, dau. of the late Andrew Galbraith, Lord Provost of Glasgow, 1857–60; _b._ Belmont, Paisley, 26 Aug. 1876; educ. Paisley Grammar School, Trinity College, Glenalmond, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Unattached List for the Indian Army, 20 Jan. 1897. He was at first posted to the Duke of Connaught’s 129th Own Baluchis, but was later transferred to the 74th Punjabis. He was promoted Lieut. 20 April, 1899, and Capt. 20 Jan. 1906, and served for one year (1911–12) on the staff of the Quartermaster-General at Simla. On 27 March, 1913, he was appointed Double Company Commander, and when the European War broke out was with his Double Company at Hong Kong. In Dec. 1914, he was attached to the 53rd Sikhs for service with the Indian Expeditionary Force, and went with them to Egypt, where he was promoted Major. At a parade of troops there on 12 April he was formally presented with the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society which had been awarded him in recognition of gallantry in going to the assistance of a native officer of his regt. at great risk to his own life during a bathing parade in Hong Kong Harbour. He died while on active service at Suez on 1 June, 1915, and was buried there. He _m._ at Madras, Dec. 1903, Rosalind, dau. of the late Hon. Mr. Justice Lewis Moore, I.C.S., Judge of the High Court, Madras, and had two children: Hugh, _b._ 25 Oct. 1904; and Rosalind Eileen, _b._ 22 April, 1907.

=COWAN, ROBERT CRAIG=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. The Royal Scots, elder _s._ of Robert Craig Cowan, of Eskhill, Inveresk, co. Midlothian, by his wife, Mabel Agnes, dau. of Robert Orr, of Cowdonhall, and gdson. of Charles William Cowan, of Loganhouse; _b._ Craigiebield, Penicuik, co. Midlothian, 5 March, 1894; educ. Cargilfield, Cheltenham, and Pembroke College, Cambridge; joined the Army on the outbreak of war, being gazetted to the 3rd Battn. The Royal Scots from the O.T.C. 15 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action at La Plinche during the Battle of Ypres, 24 Oct. 1914, while attached to the 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots, and was buried at Chapigny, near Neuve Chapelle; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote: “We miss him not only as a comrade, but as a very gallant boy, who has set a noble example of courage and fearless execution of his duty.”

=COWARD, LESLIE GRAHAM=, Capt., 1st Battn. Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regt., yst. _s._ of the late Christopher Thomas Coward, of Limehouse, L.F.P.S.G., L.S.A., by his wife, Emily (Park Lane, Stoke Newington), dau. of James Bennett; _b._ Limehouse, 1 Feb. 1890; educ. Owen’s School, Islington, and University of London (matriculated 1906). His health having broken down while he was reading for the Intermediate B.A., he secured a clerkship under the London County Council. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service, and having been a member of the London University O.T.C., was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 5th Special Reserve Battn. of the Middlesex Regt. 15 Aug. 1914. Transferred later to the 1st Battn., he was promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1915, and Capt. 3 April, 1915. He was killed in action at Flanders, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._ Writing to his mother, Col. F. Rowley said he “was killed yesterday while gallantly leading his platoon to storm German trenches. His death was instantaneous, and he could not have suffered any pain. I have had the privilege of knowing him for some months, and as his colonel had formed a very high opinion of him. He was very keen and devoted to his duty, and had done a lot of most excellent work while he was with the regt.” The regt. lost very heavily on this occasion, 12 officers being killed, 1 missing and 5 wounded. He was buried with four others in a little churchyard at Cambrin.

=COWELL, CLAUDE=, Leading Seaman, 223743 (Devon.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COWLEY, JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3874), 190567, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 25 Oct. 1914; _m._

=COWLING, WALTER SIDNEY=, Private, No. 16990, 7th Battn. (1st British Columbia Regt.) Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of the late William Frederick Cowling, by his wife, Sarah Maria (64, St. Anne’s Road, Tottenham, London, N.), dau. of Benjamin Charles Osborne; _b._ Hackney, 8 Sept. 1891; educ. Stamford Hill Board School; went to Canada 22 Feb. 1910, and settled at Revelstoke, B.C., and worked as locomotive fireman on the freight trains that went up the Rockies; enlisted in Aug. 1914, after the declaration of war, and was killed in action at Messines, 27 Sept. 1915, by shell fire. He was buried in Ploegsteert Woods.

=COWNIE, JOHN BURNETT=, Coy. Q.M. Sergt., No. 7711, 2nd Battn. Welsh Regt., _s._ of Francis Sonley Cownie, of Edinburgh, S.S.C.; _b._ Edinburgh, 24 Sept. 1886; educ. Edinburgh; joined the Army, 25 Nov. 1902, and was killed in action near Gheluvelt, Belgium, 29 Oct. 1914. 2nd Lieut. Hewett wrote: “He was with my platoon when he was killed.... He was a splendid fellow, as plucky as you make them, and a very fine leader and organiser. He would have made his mark and name in this war had he lived. He was also a first-class sniper. He met his death in the trench on my left flank, trying to locate a machine gun. He was in front of the others, and it was owing to this that we could not get his body in, though a Sergt. and myself tried. However, about 30 yards from it we got caught by machine gun fire and had to get back. He was killed outright and suffered no pain. He is a great loss to us all.” He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 7 Sept. [London Gazette, 20 Oct. 1914.]

=COX, ALAN EDWARD GEORGE=, Ordinary Telegraphist, No. 15439, H.M.S. Cressy, 1st _s._ of William Edward Cox, of 138, Chingford Road, Walthamstow, Metropolitan Police Constable, by his wife, Clara Louisa, dau. of the late William McNally; _b._ Devonport, 30 Nov. 1895; educ. William Morris School, Walthamstow; joined the Navy, 10 Jan. 1911, and was lost when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._ Letters from surviving comrades to the parents tell how he remained bravely at his post until the last moment. He had been specially promoted to be Telegraphist by Capt. Johnson on 1 Sept., and was a very promising operator. After leaving the training ship Impregnable, he served in several ships as wireless boy, and his first rating as Wireless Operator was on the ill-fated Cressy.

=COX, ANTHONY=, Stoker (R.F.R., B. 978), 281549, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COX, CHARLES=, Chief Ship’s Cook, 344105, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COX, CHARLES ALBINE=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5348), 194734, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.