Cottle, WEW

Lieutenant Walter Edward Worsdale Cottle

Born on January 31st 1895, Walter was the eldest child of an insurance broker, also named Walter Cottle, and his wife Agnes. After joining Dulwich not long after his 13th birthday he went on to stay at the College for three and a half years, leaving in December 1911 whilst a member of the Upper 5th on the Classical Side; afterwards spending time working with his father at Lloyd’s of London.
When war was declared he tried to sign up for military service straight away, but was at first refused on medical grounds, as a result taking up a position with the Royal Automobile Club, driving his own car in service of Lord Salisbury’s Division, Chelmsford. Walter however regularly re-attempted to enter the Army and, in January 1916, was finally given medical clearance to do so, joining the Artists Rifles. He was held in high regard, and less than a month later was sent across to the Grenadier Guards, who had asked the Artists Rifles for two promising young men to be transferred in order to take up commissions. He spent some time at Grantham, training as a Machine Gunner, before going across to France in the autumn of 1916, being promoted to Lieutenant at around the same time. He was killed in action at Pilckem Ridge, near Ypres, on July 31st the following year, whilst manning a machine gun on the Guards’ right flank.