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Leading Seaman THOMAS COSSENS, R.N. 190013, Leading Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS President III. Age 38 Died 25.10.1918
Leading Seaman THOMAS COSSENS, Royal Navy, was the husband of Fanny Maria. They lived at No. 2 Jessie Road, Gosport. L/S Cossens was serving on
HMS Victory III, a shore base posting in London. He became yet another person taken ill during late 1918. He was admitted to the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar, where he died on 25th October 1918, as a
result of contracting the ‘Spanish Flu’ epidemic, which raged throughout war torn Europe. Somewhere in the region of a million people died after becoming infected. Leading Seaman THOMAS
COSSENS, R.N., was laid to rest on the 29th of October 1918, and is buried, Plot 79 Space 33, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Leading Seaman ARTHUR HENRY COTTON, R.N. 215180, Leading Seaman, Royal Navy, HMS Attentive II. Age 24 Died 15.2.1918
Leading Seaman ARTHUR HENRY COTTON, Royal Navy, was the son of William and the late Sarah Cotton, he was the husband of Louisa, and they lived
at No. 54 Priory Road, Hardway, Gosport. L/S Cotton, was serving aboard HMS Attentive II. Whilst the vessel was off Dover, Kent, on the 15th February 1918, she was engaged by a German warship. In
the resulting action, both ships suffered major damage and casualties. On HMS Attentive II, L/S Cotton, was manning his gun, the turret was hit and the whole of the gun crew, were killed outright.
Badly mauled both ships disengaged, and made their way back to the port of Dover. Emergency treatment was given to those wounded, and those killed, were sent back to their hometowns for burial.
Leading Seaman ARTHUR HENRY COTTON, R.N., was laid to rest on 21st February 1918, Plot 38 Space 2, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Sergeant WILLIAM DONALD COTTON, R.A. 1459736, Sergeant Driver, 215 Battery 57th Heavy Anti Aircraft regiment, Royal
Artillery. Age 36 Died 29.1.1947
Sergeant WILLIAM DONALD COTTON, Royal Artillery, was the son of Francis Donald and Agnes Annie Cotton. He was also the husband of Doris May
Cotton, and they lived at No. 9 Sedgeley Grove, Gosport. He Died on Wednesday 29th January 1947, whilst at home. The cause was not given. Sergeant WILLIAM DONALD COTTON, R.A., was buried on Saturday 1st
February 1947, Plot 174 Space 45, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Sergeant Pilot WILLIAM BAKER COURTNEY-COX, R.A.F. 1019155, Sergeant Pilot, Royal Air Force Age 31 Died 4.6.1943
Sergeant Pilot WILLIAM BAKER COURTNEY-COX, R.A.F., was the son of Francis Thomas and Mabel Eileen Cox. He was serving at RAF Gosport, and was
the pilot of an Avro Hampden aircraft L 4070, which crashed into trees on the 3rd of June 1943. The aircraft overshot the runway Sgt Courtney-Cox attempted to boost the engine power and climb. The aircraft stalled, and crashed into trees. The crash occurred at 17.36 hrs, and two of the crew were injured. The aircraft was from No 1622 Flight Aerial Torpedo Trials Unit. At the time of the crash the aircraft was non-operational, and therefore carried no explosives. Sgt. Pilot Courtney-Cox died of his injuries in the Royal Naval Hospital at Haslar, the following day.
Sgt. WILLIAM BAKER COURTNEY-COX, R.A.F., was buried on Wednesday 9th June 1943, and is laid to rest in the War Grave Section, Row 4 Grave 7, and
is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
Corporal BRUCE SIDNEY HUBERT COWDREY, M.M. 1852666, Corporal, Royal Engineers Age 48 Died 2.6.1940
Corporal BRUCE SIDNEY HUBERT COWDREY, Military Medal, was THE SON OF William and Isabelle Mary Cowdrey, of Gosport. He was part of the British
Expeditionary Force, sent to France. Units of the Royal Engineers Regiments, were engaged in re-inforcing the Maginot Line, which formed a major part of the defensive line between France and Germany. A
tremendous amount of work was done building supporting roads, and other defensive positions. However the line stopped at the Belgium border. At that time, it was not considered possible for the German
Forces to penetrate through the Ardennes Forest region. No armoured vehicles could negotiate that very tough terrain, or so they thought!
This misconception cost the allies heavy casualties, not to mention their foothold on the continent. Pouring through the Ardennes Forest, the
German Forces, merely sidestepped the ‘Impregnable’ Maginot Line Fortifications. Sweeping the allies before them. Forcing a fighting retreat, which culminated in the evacuation of Dunkirk and
other ports along the Channel coast.
Corporal Cowdrey was badly wounded, whilst awaiting evacuation back to these shores. On arrival he was transported to the
Army Military Hospital at Tidworth, Hants. Where sadly he lost his battle to survive the wounds he had received. He passed away on Sunday 2nd June 1940. Brought back to his hometown, of Gosport.
Corporal, BRUCE SIDNEY HUBERT COWDREY, R.E., was buried on Thursday 6th June 1940, Plot 78, Space25, and is commemorated by a CWG headstone.
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