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Cpl. William Richard Cotter VC
British Army 6th Btn. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)
(d.14th March 1916)
William Cotter died of wounds on the 14th of March 1916, aged 33 and is buried in the Lillers Communal Cemetery in France.
An extract from The London Gazette, dated 28th March, 1916 (No. 29527), records the following:- "For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to duty. When his right leg had been blown off at the knee and he had also been wounded in both arms, he made his way unaided for fifty yards to a crater, steadied the men who were holding it, controlled their fire, issued orders, and altered the dispositions of his men to meet a fresh counter-attack by the enemy. For two hours he held his position, and only allowed his wounds to be roughly dressed when the attack had quieted down. He could not be moved back for fourteen hours, and during all this time had a cheery word for all who passed him. There is no doubt that his magnificent courage helped greatly to save a critical situation."
