Horace Arthur Cottam
In 1911 he was a warehouseman.
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Horace Arthur was the only son of Samuel and Ann Mary Cottam (née Nicholson).
His father Samuel was born in Southwell, Nottinghamshire, and his mother Ann Mary in Nottingham. Samuel (24), a grocer, and Ann (22), a hosiery worker, both of Long Hedge Lane, Nottingham, were married at Nottingham St Ann on 5 June 1884. They had three children who were born in Nottingham: Kate Annie b. 1885, Ethel Mary b. 1886 and Horace Arthur b. 1890.
In 1891 Samuel, a grocer, and Ann were living at 215 Ilkeston Road, Nottingham, with their three children, Kate (6), Ethel (4) and Horace (10 months). The family was still living at the same address ten years later in 1901; Samuel's occupation was described as grocer/shopkeeper 'on his own account'.
In 1911, Samuel and Ann together with Ethel and Horace were living at 8 Carrington Street, Nottingham. It is likely that Samuel and his wife were running the Alexandra Hotel and their daughter was assisting in the business; Horace was a warehouseman. The eldest daughter, Kate, had married Harry Hibbs Simpkin (also Simpkins) in 1908.
By 1921 Samuel and Ann were managing the Druids Tavern, 109 High Street, Arnold, Nottingham, for Hansons Ltd, Brewers of Kimberley. They were living at 27 Mona-street, Beeston, Nottingham, at the time of their deaths; Ann died on 31 December 1927 and Samuel three months later on 17 March 1928.
Ethel married William Richard Bridgewater, a widower, in 1916 and their son William Horace Samuel was born in 1917 (reg. Glandford Brigg, Lincolnshire). In 1921 the couple were the proprietors of the Angel Hotel in Brigg. Also in the household were their son William and William Richard's sons by his first marriage, Thomas who was assisting in the business and Jack who was school age, as well as five female servants. William Richard Bridgewater died in 1933 (reg. Newark) and his widow Ethel in June 1949; she was then living on Kelham Road, Newark.
Kate and her husband were recorded at 8 Thoresby Avenue, Gedling, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled; he was a butcher's salesman and she was an assistant at a dress shop. Harry died in 1964 and Kate in 1969; both probate records gave their address as 11a Thoresby Avenue, Gedling.
Horace Arthur Cottam enlisted at Nottingham, probably on the outbreak of war.
He was posted initially to the Grenadier Grenadier Guards (21270 Private) and served with BEF France from 15 August 1915. He later transferred to the 3rd Company 4th Bn. Machine Gun Guards (81 Private).
Horace was killed in action by a shell on 26 July 1917 and is buried in Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ieper [Ypres], West-Vlaanderen, Belgium (grave ref. VIII.A.3). The history of the cemetery suggests that Horace's grave was brought in after the Armistice.
He qualified for the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
CWGC History of Dunhallow A.D.S. Cemetery (extract): 'Duhallow Advanced Dressing Station, believed to have been named after a southern Irish hunt, was a medical post 1.6 kilometres north of Ypres (now Ieper). The Cemetery was begun in July 1917, on the day of the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, and Plots I and IV were completed by November 1918 ... After the Armistice, 633 bodies (of which 228 were not identified) were brought into this Cemetery from isolated graves and small Cemeteries on the battlefields North, East, and South of Ypres (listed) ...' (www.cwgc.org)
Note: Battle of Pilckem Ridge (31 July–2 August 1917); the opening attack of the Third Battle of Ypres.
Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery. Family grave and headstone, inscription: ‘And of our beloved brother, Horace Arthur (Grenadier Guards), and only son of Samuel and Anne Mary Cottam, fell in action, France, July, 26th, 1917, aged 21 years. Duty nobly done.’
Mundella Magazine, Christmas 1918, ROH: 'Cottam, HA, Pte, MGC.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 7 August 1917: 'Cottam. Killed in action by shell July 26th 1917, Horace Arthur, Grenadier Guards, only son of Mr and Mrs S Cottam age 27, late Alexandra Hotel, Carrington Street, brother of Mrs Harry Simpkins, Southwell Road. (Kate).'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 7 August 1917:
'Cottam. Killed in action by shell, July 26th, 1917, Horace Arthur, Grenadier Guards, dearly-loved and devoted only son of Mr. and Mrs. S. Cottam, aged 27, late Alexandra Hotel, Carrington-street. Into Thy hands, O Lord.'
'Cottam. Killed in action by shell, July 26th, 1917, Horace Arthur, Grenadier Guards, the dearly loved and devoted brother of Mrs. Harry Simkins, Southwell-road. A noble life. A noble death. – Kate and Harry.'
'Cottam. Killed in action, July 26th, 1917, my dearly loved Horace, Grenadier Guards, two years' active service. The supreme sacrifice. – Fiancée Lily and Mr. and Mrs. Chesham.'
Nottingham Evening Post, 'In Memoriam', 26 July 1918:
'Cottam. In cherished memory of our dear and devoted only son, Horace Arthur, Machine Gun Guards, who have his life for home and country July 26th, 1917. The sacrifice too great. – From sorrowing mother and father.'
'Cottam. In proud and everlasting remembrance of our dearly loved brother, Horace Arthur, Machine Gun Guards (Grenadiers), killed in action July 26th, 1917, after two years' active service; volunteered 1914. Cherished memories shattered hopes. – Sister Katie, Mrs. Harry Simkins and husband (Mesopotamia).'
Above courtesy of Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: his father, Samuel, was his legatee.
Probate: Cottam Ann Mary of 27 Mona-street Beeston Nottinghamshire (wife of Samuel Cottam) died 31 December 1927 Administration Nottingham 11 May to Kate Annie Simpkins (wife of Harry Simpkins) and Ethel Mary Bridgewater (wife of William Richard Bridgewater). Effects £320.
Probate: Cottam Samuel of 27 Mona-street Beeston Nottinghamshire died 17 March 1928 Administration Nottingham 24 April to Kate Annie Simpkins (wife of Harry Simpkins) and Ethel Mary Bridgewater (wife of William Richard Bridgewater). Effects £1259 5s.
Photo of Horace Arthur Cottam
Buried in Duhallow ADS Cemetery, Ieper, Belgium (www.cwgc.org)
Photo of Horace Arthur Cottam
Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery, family grave. Photograph RW (9 Feb. 2026)
Photo of Horace Arthur Cottam
Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery, family grave. Photograph RW (9 Feb. 2026)