| Regimental number | 4462 |
| Place of birth | Cairns Queensland |
| Other Names | William Clarke |
| School | State School, Cairns, Queensland |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Sawmiller |
| Address | PO, Mildura, Victoria |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 7" |
| Weight | 158 lbs |
| Next of kin | Mother, Mrs M Cotter, PO, Mildura, Victoria |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 7th Battalion, 14th Reinforcement |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/24/4 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board HMAT A32 Themistocles on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 59th Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Place of death or wounding | Fleurbaix, France (Battle of Fromelles) |
| Age at death | 23 |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 23 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 7), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 167 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: Thomas and Margaret COTTER, 37 Mangie Street, Abbotsford, Victoria |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Embarked Melbourne, 28 January 1916; disembarked Suez, 28 February 1916. Transferred to 57th Bn from 2nd Training Bn, Zeitoun, 29 March 1916; taken on strength of 57th Bn, Ferry Post, 1 April 1916. Transferred to 59th Bn, 3 April 1916; taken on strength of 59th Bn, 3 April 1916. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 18 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 29 June 1916. Posted missing, 19 July 1916. Court of Enquiry, held in the field, 29 August 1917, pronounced fate as 'Killed in Action, 19 July 1916'. Note on B.103, 'presume buried in No Man's Land approx at 5J9043 to 5K0251 Sheet Hazebrouck 5a'. Statement, 3268 Pte T.W. BULLING, 59th Bn, 27 October 1919: 'I was about 20 yards from Cotter when he was shot. We had just crossed the creek in front of Fleurbaix when a sniper's bullet hit him in the chest. He was killed outright. I saw him fall. I can give no news as to his burial.' It was just about midnight when he was killed.' Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, COTTER William
Red Cross file 810704 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
