Reginald Annesley's Story.
Birkenhead News 01 September 1915Killed in Action.
PRIVATE R. A. COTTRELL.
A Lairage Worker.
LEAVES SIX YOUNG CHILDREN.
News has been received from Pte. J. Conway that his cousin, Pte. Reginald Annesley Cottrell, of the 4th Cheshires, whose home is at 10, Brimstage Street, Birkenhead, has been killed in action. Pte. Conway, who is in the 4th Cheshires, writes from the front :-
“I am very sorry to have to write and let you know that Reg was killed in action on the 12th August, and tell Fan that he did not suffer any pain as he died almost as soon as he was hit.”
Private Cottrell leaves a widow and six little children, the two youngest of whom are twins eight months old who have been born since he has been away with the battalion. He is a native of Birkenhead, his mother being Mrs. Cottrell, of 8, Brimstage Street, next door. He was educated at the Woodlands School, subsequently joining the regular army, being for seven years in the 3rd Cheshires, the old Militia. On leaving the army he worked at the Lairages, and then in last September he joined the 4th Cheshires. He was 29 years of age, and was a member of the Bidston Hill (707) Lodge of the Orange Order, and was an enthusiastic quoit player, frequenting the quoiting ground in Oxton. When a boy he was a member of the Oxton Road Congregational Sunday School.
He had been married eight years, his widow being the daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Vincent Pardue, formerly of Wilkinson Street. Whilst the battalion was at Bedford he was a member of the Military Police.