BORN HESSLE CLIFF, YORKSHIRE, 1886. SON OF HENRY COTTON (1843-1926) AND BETSY COTTON (1849-1915). ONE OF NINE CHILDREN. A PLATE LAYER FOR THE NORTH EASTERN RAILWAYS WORKING IN HULL. HIS WIFE SARAH ELIZABETH COTTON & SEVEN CHILDREN LIVED AT 1 ROSE COTTAGE, SOUGHGATE HESSLE, HULL (WAR PENSION ADDRESS).
HE ENLISTED IN LONDON JOINING THE ROYAL ENGINEERS. FORMERLY SAPPER, 190917. HE TRANSFERRED TO THE 20TH LANCASHIRE FUSLIERS. HE WAS KILLED IN ACTION, ON 08/01/1918, AGED 32. HE IS BURIED IN BELGIUM. HIS WIDOW RECEIVED A WEEKLY WAR PENSION, FROM 29/07/1918, OF 49 SHILLINGS AND THREEPENCE, FOR HER SIX DAUGHTERS AND YOUNG SON, FRANK, BORN 20/12/1917.
HIS DEATH WAS REPORTED IN THE HULL DAILY MAIL, ON 12/02/1918. HIS NAME IS RECORDED ON THE HESSLE ROLL OF HONOUR, ALL SAINTS PARISH CHURCH.
