Albert Edward Bott
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- Military History
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Albert Edward was the eldest son of Albert Edward and Lottie Bott (née Gregory). His father Albert Edward was born in Nottingham in 1874, the son of Thomas Bott, an ironmonger, and his wife Sarah Ellen. His mother Lottie Gregory was born in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, in 1875. Albert and Lottie were married at Basford Register Office in 1896 and had four children: Albert Edward b. 1896, Dorothy Ida b. 1898, Martha Helen (Nellie) b. 1901 (reg. J/F/M) and George Willie (Billie) b. 1902 (reg. 1903). In 1901 Albert, an ironmonger, and Lottie were living at 28 Colling Road, Nottingham, with their three children Albert (3), Dorothy (2) and Martha (under 1 year). Their fourth child was born the following year. By 1911 they had moved to 11 Doncaster Terrace, Glapton Road, Meadows, where they were living with their four children, Albert a printer's assistant, Dorothy, Martha and George (8). Albert snr.'s occupation was given as builders' ironmongers traveller. Albert was later to own a builders' merchants, AE Bott Ltd, of Newark Street, Sneinton, Nottingham. Albert jnr. attested in 1916, giving his next of kin as his father of 35 Tentercroft Street, Lincoln. However, the family's address when Albert was killed in 1919 was 1 Eckington Terrace, Glapton Road, Meadows, Nottingham. Albert and Lottie were living on Sutherland Road, Nottingham, when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled; Albert was described as a retired builders' merchant. Lottie died on 13 December 1944; the probate record gave two of her three executors as her married daughters Dorothy Ida James and Martha Ellen Pashley. Albert Edward died on 3 May 1949; he was still living on Sutherland Road. His surviving son, George William, was one of his two executors.
99th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Albert Edward, a motor fitter, attested on 23 February 1916 aged 19 years 10 months. According to his RAF record, he had a prior engagement with the 3/1 South Notts Hussars (no dates), presumably as a Territorial. Albert joined the Army transferring to the Royal Flying Corps on 23 February 1916, the day he attested. He transferred to the Royal Air Force on 1 April 1918 and extended his service by three years on 24 March 1919. He was appointed leading airman on 1 August 1916, acting corporal 9 November 1917 and acting corporal (paid) 1 January 1917. He transferred to the RAF on 1 April 1918 in the rank of corporal mechanic but was appointed sergeant mechanic the following day with advancement to acting chief mechanic on 25 June 1918 and appointment to the rank on 1 September the same year. Albert served in France, but on 20 April 1918 he joined 99 Squadron and by 15 October was with the Squadron in India. He died on the Afghan border, Simla States, from gunshot wounds to the head, on 1 November 1919. According to his service record, he was buried in No. 1 Grave, Mianwali Cemetery. Punjab, on 3 November. However, Albert is now commemorated on the Karachi 1914-1918 War Memorial, Pakistan (formerly India). 99 Squadron: Formed as a bomber squadron (de Havilland DH.9) at Yatesbury, Wiltshire, in 1917. It deployed to France in 1918 but was withdrawn from the front line in September 1918 to be reequipped with de Havilland DH.9A bombers. The Squadron deployed to India as No. 99 (Madras Presidency) Squadron, flying patrols over the North-West Frontier from Mianwali and Kohat during the Mahsud and Waziristan campaigns. CWGC - History of Karachi War Memorial (extract): 'The War Cemetery was created by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to receive the graves from a number of civil and cantonment cemeteries scattered through the north of Pakistan and the tribal areas, where their permanent maintenance was not possible ... The 1914-1918 Memorial is located at the rear of the cemetery opposite the entrance feature and it commemorates 575 Commonwealth casualties. Initially the memorial was designed to commemorate those who served in garrisons and died in Pakistan (formerly part of India) during the 1914-1918 War and who lie buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries there, excluding those graves lying west of the river Indus who it was decided would be commemorated on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate). However, due to difficulties in adding to the Delhi Memorial (India Gate) in recent years, some casualties who are known to have been buried in sites west of the river Indus have subsequently been added to this memorial instead. The cemeteries in which they lie buried, and which have since been found impossible to maintain adequately, are as follows [listed, including Mianwali Cemetery].' (www.cwgc.org)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 8 November 1919: ‘Bott. On the 1st inst., killed in Simla States, India, after service in France. Albert Edward Bott, Sergeant RAF, 21352, aged 23, the dearly beloved son of Mr and Mrs Bott, 1 Eckington-terrace, Glapton-road.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ’In Memoriam’, 1 November 1920: ‘Bott. In honoured memory of our dear son, Sergt-Major (sic) AE Bott, 99th Squadron RAF, killed on the Afghan Frontier, November 1st 1919. To-day brings back memory, a dear one gone to rest, and those who (-) of him to-day, are those who loved him best. From sorrowing father and mother, and brother Billy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ’In Memoriam’, 1 November 1920: ‘Bott. In loving memory of my dear brother, Sergt.-Major AE Bott (Ted), killed in India November 1st, 1919. A loving brother, true and kind, a beautiful memory left behind. From his loving sister Nellie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ’In Memoriam’, 1 November 1920: ‘Bott. In affectionate memory of my dear brother, Serg.-Major AE Bott, 99th Squadron RAF, killed on the Afghan Frontier November 1st 1919. Memories of by-gone days. From his devoted sister Dorothy.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
