CHARLES SAMUEL COTTON
image from 1916 Suffolk Chronicle and Mercury newspaper.
Born: 10th November 1884, Ipswich.
Died: 24th April 1916; age 31; died of Compound Fracture and Head injuries at Sheerness Sick Quarters. Injuries received when H.M. Trawler ‘Lena Melling’ was sunk by a mine on the 23rd April 1916.
Casualty notice to next of kin – 24th April 1916.
Residence: 61, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
Enrollment date: 14th April 1915. Height: 5ft 9ins, fresh complexion, grey eyes. Tattoo ‘C.C’ and ‘A.V.’ on left forearm.
Confirmed rating: Leading Deck Hand – R.N.R. – 14th April 1915.
Rank: Leading Deck Hand; Service Number: 9/SD
Regiment: Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.Trawler ‘Lena Melling.’
Body conveyed to Ipswich from Sheerness with agreement of R.N.R. and Mrs. Adelaide Cotton for funeral on the 27th April.
Grave Reference:
BA.I.24.
Ipswich.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of George & Lydia Cotton, of 120, Cavendish Street, Ipswich; husband of Adelaide Cotton, of 61, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
CENSUS
1891 2, Burton’s Yard, College Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 7 years old and living with his parents & siblings.
George Cotton, 32, a Grocer’s Carter, born Aldeburgh, Suffolk.
Lydia Cotton (nee Crane), 29, born Ipswich.
William George Cotton, 10, born Ipswich.
Gertrude Sarah Cotton, 2, born Ipswich.
1901 50, Wykes Bishop Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 17 years old, a Seaman. He was living with his parents & siblings.
George, 43, a Waterman – Rivers – Barge.
Lydia, 41.
William, 19, a Seaman.
Gertrude, 12.
Ellen Beatrice Cotton, 9 born Ipswich.
Ernest Cotton, 8, born Ipswich.
Leslie Cotton, 3, born Ipswich.
1911 61, Cavendish Street, Ipswich.
Charles was 27 years old, a Dock Labourer. He was married and Head of the Household.
Adelaide, 26.
Wilfred, 4.
Leonard, 1.
On the 7th August 1905, at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich, Charles married, Adelaide Vincent, born February 1885, Ipswich.
They had 2 children:
Wilfred Charles W. Cotton, born September 1906, Ipswich.
Leonard Percy Cotton, April 1909, Ipswich.
Charles is also remembered on the war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, Ipswich.
IPSWICH MAN KILLED AT SEA.
The funeral took place at the Ipswich Cemetery on Friday last of Charles Samuel Cotton, late of 61, Cavendish Street, Ipswich, who, whilst pursuing his duty as a minesweeper, met his death at sea on April 24th last. The remains were buried with full military honours, the coffin being borne to the grave on a gun carriage, with a firing party and buglers in attendance. The picture shows the coffin on the gun carriage at the Cemetery, and inset a portrait of the deceased.
The minesweeper H.M. Trawler was sunk by a mine near the ‘Elbow’ Light Buoy, near Broadstairs, Kent. The mine was laid by UC-7, (Georg Haag). 11 persons were lost, 3 survivors.
7 Comments
My father was Arthur George Cotton and he lived in Cavendish Street and was also a seaman, I wonder if they are related.
I think they are related to us because the census, the location and the names do match up.
Hi I think I am also related though Leslie Cotton as he would be my great grandad
Hi Michelle, we are connected to the Cottons in Cavendish Street, what is your connection. I’m assuming your not our Michelle S Cotton.
Hi I think my family is also related as my grandfather is the son of Leslie Cotton 3 years old on the 1901 census
Hi, I am linked to your family because Ellen Beatrice, daughter of Georgevand Lydia, is my paternal grandmother.
I would be very grateful for any information and/or photos to help with my research.
For some unknown reason when my grandmother died in 1921 she was buried in an unmarked grave and she was never mentioned within family circles.
Hello, I believe this is my great, great uncle??
I was also a leading seaman mine warfare in the Royal Navy for 8 years.