| Regimental number | 3073 |
| Place of birth | Hayes, Middlesex, England |
| School | Brunt Hill Home, Hanwell, Middlesex, England |
| Age on arrival in Australia | 18 |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Dairy hand |
| Address | Midland Junction, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 24 |
| Height | 5' 9.25" |
| Weight | 151 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, Joseph Cotching, Princes Brisboro, Bucks, England |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Perth, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 28th Battalion, 7th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/45/2 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia, on board HMAT A7 Medic on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 24 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 24 |
| Place of burial | Ration Farm Military Cemetery (Plot VI, Row K, Grave No. 26), La Chapelle d'Armentieres, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 120 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Joseph and Alice COTCHING, 'Stranbally', Cleveland Road, Uxbridge, England |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Freemantle, 18 January 1916; disembarked Suez, 16 February 1916. Taken on strength of 32nd Bn, Duntroon Plateau, 6 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Posted missing, 20 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 12 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 20 July 1916'.Note, Red Cross File No 810604: 'No trace Germany[.] Cert. by Capt. Mills. 10.10.19.' Statement, 3235 Pte W.G. PODMORE, C Company, 32nd Bn (patient, Woodcote Park Hospital, England), 23 October 1916: 'On 19th July at Fleurbaix, in No Man's Land, Cotching and Pte Dean passed informant (who was lying wounded) on their way to Dressing Station - both wounded in the leg. This was at 5 p.m. Informant watched them get safely into our trench. Since then Dean has been reported killed. The presumption is that were caught by another shell.' Second statement, 951 Pte H. HEARNE, 32nd Bn (patient, Thornton Heath Hospital, England), 17 November 1916: 'Informant states that George Cotching was shot in the shin and the face by shrapnel just as he was going over the parapet. Immediately afterwards Informant was wounded himself.' Letter, Marion COTCHING, to Red Cross, 30 December 1916: 'I am afraid there is very little hope that he was not killed and although it is a terrible grief [I[ am - like thousands of other Mothers - proud that he died doing his duty.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, COTCHING George Albert
Red Cross file 810604 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
