William was the son of George and Sarah Cotton of Weybourne House, 22 Constable Road, Felixstowe. His mother was originally from Felixstowe but sadly died in 1915.  William had an older brother Norman, he emigrated to the USA in 1913 and an older sister Christine who got married in 1919.  Before the war he was an engineers draughtsman.

 

He was a 2Lt in 1st/4th Battalion of the Suffolk Regiment.  He died on 23rd August 1917 at 24 Clearing Station.  He is buried at Adinkerke Military Cemetery