Private Reginald Cott
15th Battalion, AIF
Service Number: 879
Born: 2 January 1888 Penrith, NSW
Died: 8 August 1915, Gallipoli, Turkey
Reginald Cott was born on 2 January 1888 at Penrith, the son of James and Emily (nee Burt) Cott. Cott attended the St Marys Public School and in 1906, after the death of his mother, Cott went to live with his uncle, Henry James Plummer, at Smithtown until 1914. Cott’s brother Sydney also enlisted and served with the 12th Battalion AIF and 3rd Pioneer Battalion before returning to Australia in October 1918.
Cott enlisted at Casino on 21 September 1914 and was allocated to F Company 15th Battalion AIF. On 21 December 1914, Cott was absent without leave (AWOL) from 12 noon until joining his company on A40 HMAT Ceramic. The battalion arrived in Egypt in early February 1915. Cott and his battalion left Egypt bound for Gallipoli as part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force on 12 April 1915. On 25 April 1915, the 15th Battalion landed at ANZAC Cove late in the afternoon. In August, the 14th and 15th Battalions were tasked with seizing the high ground between Hill 971 (the highest point of the Sari Bair Ridge) and Chanuk Bair in order to secure a drive across the peninsula to capture the forts which guarded the straits. Progress was slow due to the difficult terrain and by dawn on 7 August the brigade was well short of its objective. Cott was killed on 8 August 1915 during a failed attempt to assault the summit of Hill 971.
Memorial Details:
- Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Turkey
- Roll of Honor, St Marys Public School
Sources: