Description
The Medal Index Card for Charles Cotes states that he served as a private in the 9th Notts & Derby Regiment with regimental number 22933. He also served as an Acting Corporal with the Connaught Rangers and had the service number 6501 with the Connaughts.
The 9th Notts & Derby Regt and the 5th Battalion of the Connaught Rangers both served in Gallipoli. The Medal Index Card shows that Charles Cotes entered the Balkans (Gallipoli) on 8th September and at some stage the authorities decided he was worthy of promotion to the acting rank of corporal within the Connaught Rangers. Cotes appears to only have held the rank of private as a serving member of the Notts & Derby Regt. (Sherwood Foresters).
Interestingly, the medal rolls give some information that potentially could be used for further research in trying to more clearly establish Pte. Cotes military career. The Medal awards roll (copies supplied) places him as a serving L. Cpl with Connaught Rangers, number 6501. Interestingly, here he is identified as serving with the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers.
He is listed on a different Medal roll that has the 8th 9th 1915 Disembarkation date with a line through it, and the new Disembarkation date 4-12-1915 written above it. The note on the side with the * states Authy EF/9/2580. Charles Cotes Connaught Ranger number is also given 6501 with the rank of Acting/Corpl. on this document.
All three medals are officially named and numbered “22933 Pte C. Cotes Notts. & Derby R.”
A very interesting set of medals worthy of more research.
The medals are all original and come with replacement ribbons. Copies of the research I have done will also be included.
