A fine collection of 1914 Stars to the Cavalry

Eight: Warrant Officer Class 2 J. W. Cotterill, 5th Dragoon Guards and latterly, 1st Dragoon Guards, 4th/7th Dragoon Guards and Royal Army Pay Corps
1914 Star (7888 L. Cpl., 5/D. Gds.); British War and Victory Medals (7888 Pte., 5-D. Gds.); Defence and War Medals, unnamed; Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, unnamed; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R. 3rd issue, Regular Army (389709 W.O. Cl. II, 4-7 D.G.); Efficiency Medal, G.VI.R., 1st issue, Militia (389709 S/Sjt., R.A.P.C.) mounted court style for display, contact marks, fine and better (17) £400-500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, A fine collection of 1914 Stars to the Cavalry.

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At the outbreak of war the 5th Dragoon Guards were stationed at Aldershot. They entered France on 16 August 1914 as part of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division. John William Cotterill was born in Rotherham on 7 January 1895 and attested for the 5th Dragoon Guards at Aldershot on 17 February 1913. Entering France, he was appointed a Lance-Corporal on 20 August. Posted as ‘Missing’ in the retreat from Mons on 5 September, he later became reunited with his unit. Serving with the 5th Dragoon Guards, he was wounded on 13 May 1915, during the Second Battle of Ypres, suffering a gun-shot wound to the right thigh. Following his recovery, he was posted to the 1st Reserve Cavalry Regiment and in February 1916, to the 1st Dragoon Guards. With them he remained at the front until April 1917 when he was repatriated as sick. In October 1917 he was posted to the 4th Reserve Cavalry Regiment. Cotterill was awarded the R.V.M. on the occasion of King George V’s visit to Aldershot on 25 May 1920 - probably for his services as a standard bearer. He transferred to the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in March 1928 and was awarded the Army L.S. & G.C. Medal in December 1931. He was discharged on 16 February 1934 but in April the same year he joined the R.A.P.C. Special Reserve Militia, remaining with them until the outbreak of the Second World War when he was remobilised. He served throughout the war on Home Service, firstly in Manchester and then at Aldershot, being transferred to Class ‘Z’ Reserve in August 1945. Awarded the Efficiency Medal in October 1943. Cotterill was not discharged from the Reserve until 19 February 1951.

Together with a mounted set of five miniature dress medals: 1914 Star with clasp; British War and Victory Medals; Army L.S. & G.C., G.V.R., 1st/2nd issue; Royal Victorian Medal, G.V.R., silver, mounted as worn. Also with an Army Rifle Association Medal, bronze, reverse inscribed, ‘Cpl. J. W. Cotterill, 1st K.O.C. Henry Whitehead Cup Winners 1922’; Aldershot Command Athletic Association Medal, Command Cross Country Team Race 15-12-1917 Winning Team, bronze, inscribed, ‘L/Cpl. J. Cotterill, 4th (Res) Dragoons’; another, Command Comrades Relay Race, November 1918 Second Team, bronze, inscribed, ‘L/Cpl. J. Cotterill, 4th Res. Dragoons’; another, No. 2 Group Cross Country Team Race, December 1918 Winning Team, oval bronze, unnamed. With a quantity of copied research.