Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Written by the great, great granddaughter of Cotton

Cotton’s early life in Streaky Bay, a coastal town in South Australia, was certainly influenced by the measures of farming life and family bonds. Growing up as one of six children in a household led by Albert Edward and Elizabeth Jane, Cotton likely experienced both the joys and challenges of rural life. His siblings, Mabel May, Florence Annie, Alma Rachel, Albert Everard, and Stephen Allen, formed a strong lineage, each eventually embarking on their paths and marrying.

Charles Cotton’s enlisted on October 24, 1914, at the age of 22 years old, placed him among the ranks of the 9th Light Horse Regiment, B Squadron, a unit that played a significant role in Australia’s organized infantry operations during World War I. Cotton served in Gallipoli and in France on the Western Front.

After the war, Charles Cotton returned to his normal life. He married Marcella Teresa Condon in 1923, a nurse he met while recovering in London from the wounds he received. Soon, she gave birth to three children: Edward Robert, Jean, and Eva. Only one of the three children continued the family farm on the original property, Edward. Edward married Marjorie Amos and had three children, one of them being my grandfather, Garry Charles Cotton, who married my grandmother, Marguaritte Claire Cummings, who soon had my aunt, uncle, and mother, Garry, Toni, and Rachel, which then led to this generation, where I was born.

Charles Tilney lived a long, happy life, passing away from natural causes about 25 years later at the age of 65. He was buried in his hometown, Streaky Bay Cemetery.

Remembering Charles Cotton’s story is not just a tribute to his life, it’s a reflection on the sacrifices, resilience, and dedication of all soldiers who served in the First World War. His journey from a humble childhood in Streaky Bay to the battlefields of Gallipoli and Palestine exemplifies the extraordinary courage required to face the harsh realities of war. Like so many others, he stepped forward in a time of great uncertainty, demonstrating unwavering strength and loyalty. Beyond his military service, Cotton’s life after the war demonstrates another kind of bravery: the ability to return to normality, build a family, and carry on despite the hardships he may have suffered. His legacy is not just in his medals but in the generations of his family who continue to honour and remember him. The photographs, the stories, and the history passed down ensure that his contributions are never forgotten.