Spr
Frank Leslie Cottrell

Information about birth

Year of birth:
1898
Place of birth:
City of Westminster, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom

General information

Profession:
High School Student

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Sapper
Service number:
471666
Enlistment place:
Chatham, Kent, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Royal Engineers, 77th Field Coy.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
20/11/1917
Place of death:
Kortebeek Farm, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
19

Memorial

Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel: 8A

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 2

#1 Place of birth
#2 Enlistment place

My story

Sapper Frank Leslie Cottrell served in the Royal Engineers 77th Field Company, part of the Divisional Royal Engineers of the 17th (Northern) Division.

On the 6th of November 1917, the same day the village of Passchendaele was captured by Canadian troops, the 77th Field Company Royal Engineers moved to the Yser Canal north of Ypres. They were billeted at Bard Cottage on the west bank of Canal and the Company started working at the frontline.

Throughout the month the men maintained and constructed duckboard tracks, trenches and material dumps in the Langemark area. On 15 November the Company made a transport bridge over the Steenbeek at the village of Langemark. And on the 19th and the 20th of November 1917 the 77th Field Company was working on the road and the bridge, which ran over the Broenbeek stream at the Kortebeek Farm, just north of the village of Langemark. While the Company was working at the bridge near Kortebeek Farm it suffered several casualties. On 20 November 1917 one man of the Royal Engineers 77th Field Company went missing and was believed to be killed.

This man was 19-year old Sapper Frank Leslie Cottrell. He has no known grave and is remembered at the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Files 2

Sources 4

Ancestry
http://home.ancestry.co.uk/
Further reference
CWGC
https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/841462/cottrell,-frank-leslie/
Sources used
The Long, Long Trail
http://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/
Sources used
War Diary Royal Engineers, 77th Field Coy.
http://www.nmarchive.com/
Further reference