Sergeant Augustine Cotter

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog.
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Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

107 years ago today, on the 28th June 1915, Sergeant Augustine Cotter, 7th Australian Light Horse Regiment (Reg No-701), blacksmith (Walsh Island Government Dockyards, Newcastle, N.S.W.), of Railway Station, Fassifern, New South Wales, was Killed in Action on the Gallipoli Peninsula, age 22.

https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1727540/ - Roll of Honour.

Born at Newcastle, New South Wales on the 10th January 1893 (as Augustin) to William James (died 25.5.1936 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139227885) and Rose Kate (Katie, died 28.7.1946 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133164797) Cotter, Gus enlisted November 1914 at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Resting at Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. Plot III Row D Grave 37.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137200739 - Roll of Honour, 1915.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133890559 - Roll of Honour, 1916.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134864467 - Roll of Honour, 1917.

Mr. Cotter’s name has been inscribed on the Toronto Soldiers' Memorial, Toronto Red Cross Honour Roll, Gardner Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 16th September 1916, 15 names originally inscribed. 73 names now inscribed of the Fallen) and the St. Mary's-Marist Bros' School (Newcastle) Honour Roll. Name possibly inscribed on the Newcastle Technical College Roll of Honour (unveiled on the 13th June 1917, over 100 names inscribed, whereabouts unknown). Fassifern did not unveil a War Memorial or a Roll of Honour.

There is no headstone at the clearly marked curbed gravesite of the Cotter family, therefore no memorial inscription to tell us of their son’s supreme sacrifice during The Great War, so December 2017 I placed a Memorial cross adorned with poppies in remembrance of Gus’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country. CATHOLIC 2-32. 61.

Older brother William Robert (7th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Reg No-702, born 1885, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 21.12.1962, resting at Murwillumbah Catholic Cemetery, photo 6) enlisted same day.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137207032 - brother William reported wounded.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133759102 - brother William welcomed home at the Toronto School of Arts Hall.

Older brother John Sylvester (7th Australian Light Horse Regiment & Army Postal Corps, Reg No-1623, born 1887, Newcastle, N.S.W., died 1966, Balmain, N.S.W.) also served 1st A.I.F.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.