Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of Ellen Cottam, of "Rotherham," Pennant St., Parramatta, New South Wales, and the late William Cottam. 

A GRANVILLE SOCCER CHAMPION'S DEATH
Five years ago Mr. and Mrs. Wm, Cottam, of 'Werriwa,' High-street, Harris Park, migrated to Australia with the whole of their  family, which comprised two sons, John Willie and Albert. The oldest son, J. W., was not long in Australia before his credentials  secured for him a position in the Clyde boiler-works, and this position he kept until he heard his country's call, and, hearing it,  enlisted for active service on July 19, 1915, from Parramatta. He went into camp a fortnight later at Liverpool, and sailed for  Egypt on November 2, arriving there 22 days later, on th 24th.
He was in the trenches at the Suez Canal for awhile before being sent direct to France, where he arrived on March 28, 1916, with the first division to bo sent direct from Egypt. Ho has been in the trenches, practically speaking, ever since, although he was  knocked over with a bomb early in the Poziores fighting, as well as having suffered slightly with 'trench 'foot,' which kept him in hospital for a momth. On both occasions (and this is perhaps another illustration of the dire need of reinforcements for our soldiers) he was returned to tho firing-line and had gone right through until it came to his turn to pay tho supremo price, as conveyed to the family on Saturday last by Eov. S. M. Johnstone — 'died in clearing hospital, as the result of gunshot wound in  the forehead, on April 17.' The deceased soldier was a great favorite in this district. He was a noted Soccer footballer, and many  members — and high officials, too — of the G. and E.F.A. have this week quietly and unassumingly bowed their heads as they  heard the sad news.
He was a prominent member of the redoubtable 'Magpies, and placed centre forward in the team that won the double event —  the Gardiner and Rawson Cups — in one season (1914), following it up in 1915 by again winning the Rawson Cup and only  meeting defeat for the Gardiner Cup in the semi-final, in 1915. He also held an honor cap from the Sydney association. His only,  brother, Private Albert Cottam, is 21 years of age, and is still fighting in France; He enlisted in November, 1915, was ill in Egypt,  completed his training in England, and has been in the firing-line since November 10, 1910. He, too, was a footballer before  enlisting, but was attached to the Parramatta Juniors, who won the Soccer medals in 1914. Both young men were adherents of 
the Congregational Church at Parramatta. Much genuine sympathy is expressed with Mr. and Mrs. Cottam, who willingly allowed their two boys — their only children — to return over the vast expanse of ocean to fight for the country of their birth and the  laud of their adoption. May their example be emulated by some of the cold-footed wasterg who over try to detract from the merits of 'Pommies.' Out of respect to their late fellowwork men, tho flag at Clyde Works was flying half-mast during the week,  and upon receipt of the sad news Alderman H. A. Mombroy (president) and Mr. Fred Robertson (secretary), of tho G. and D.F.A., called upon Mr. and JMrs. Cottam and extended tho sympathy of the association.