COTTER, Albert
| Service Number: | 924 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 April 1915, Liverpool, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Trooper |
| Last Unit: | 12th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, 3 December 1884 |
| Home Town: | Glebe, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Forest Lodge Public School, Sydney Grammar School |
| Occupation: | Test Cricketer/Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Palestine, 31 October 1917, aged 32 years |
| Cemetery: |
Beersheba War Cemetery D 50 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Glebe Roll of Honor, Glebe War Memorial, Sydney Grammar School WW1 Honour Board, Sydney United Grand Lodge Honour Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 924, Liverpool, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 9 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 924, 12th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: '' | |
| 9 Aug 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 924, 12th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Runic, Sydney | |
| 13 Nov 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 924, 1st Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 20 May 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Trooper, 924, 12th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Beersheba, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 924 awm_unit: 12th Australian Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Trooper awm_died_date: 1917-10-31 |
WW1
Details of this sportsman and soldier are provided in the book "Just Soldiers" written by WO1 Darryl Kelly published 2004 chapter 10 pages 59-66.
Submitted 28 December 2019 by Maxwell HILL
Tpr Albert Cotter
Cotter joined the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in April 1915, aged 31. The enlistment of a former sporting champion was seen as powerful publicity for the AIF recruiting campaign.
Despite having no great riding ability, he was accepted into the 1st Australian Light Horse Regiment; he took a late part in the Gallipoli campaign. Later he transferred to the 12th Light Horse and was commended for his “fine work under heavy fire” during the second battle of Gaza. The official history remarked: “he behaved in action as a man without fear”. He declined promotion.
Whilst serving in the AIF, he participated in a unique Australia vs. England "Test Match" played in 1917 between two teams made up from the Australian and British troops stationed in Palestine.
Death
On 31 October 1917 the 4th Light Horse Brigade, of which the 12th Regiment was part, captured Beersheba by a brilliant cavalry-style charge. Although Cotter was there as a stretcher-bearer, he actually took part in the charge itself, and "was shot from the saddle during a mounted charge on a Turkish position"
"Cotter was killed in a mounted charge on Beersheba at dusk on the 31/10/17. Early next morning, together with Trooper O'Rourke of our troop, I was detailed to collect saddlery and personal effects. We were surprised to find Cotter amongst our casualties, knowing he had been detailed for that day as a stretcher bearer. It seems he had changed places with another Light Horseman because he wanted to be in the mounted charge." — "Ex-Trooper", The Crookwell Gazette, 1 March 1933.
At the end of the charge, as troops dismounted to engage the enemy, a Turk shot Cotter dead at close range.
Submitted 1 November 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Robert Kearney
Albert's older brother 5678 Pte. John Cotter (/explore/people/188342) was killed in action in Belgium on 04 Oct 1917, just 4 weeks earlier.
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John Henry and Margaret Hay Cotter, of 266, Glebe Point Rd., Sydney, New South Wales. Australian Cricketer - toured England in 1905 and 1909.
IN MEMORY OF OUR DEARLY LOVED SON AND BROTHER
Member of Pythagoras 68 Lodge
Mr. J. H. Cotter, of Monteith, Glebe-road, Glebe, has been notified that his youngest son, Trooper Albert ("Tlbby") Cotter, was killed in action in Egypt on October 30. He left Australia on active service in August, 1915.
Albert Cotter was one of the most consistent of the State's leading cricketers. He was born in Phillip-street, Sydney, December 3, 1884, and was therefore 33 years of age.
He received his education at the Forest Lodge Public School and the Sydney Grammar School.
His career in first-class cricket began with the Glebe Club, in 1900, and very quickly he established himself as a brilliant bowler — one of the fastest, in fact, that the State has ever had. He was, as well, a batsman of considerable merit. His highest scores made with the bat for his club were 156 and 122. The former included sixteen 6's, and was made against Waverley, on Waverley Oval. He made his first appearance in international cricket in 1903, when he was included in the New South Wales team against Warner's English Eleven, and in that match took five wickets for 44, and three for 56. This was followed by participation in the fourth and fifth test matches of that season, and thence forward he was firmly established in international ranks.
He visited England twice with Australian Elevens—in 1905 and 1909. His career in big cricket lasted nine years—until the famous split with the Board of Control in 1911.
Click images to start slideshow.