George Cossar likeness

George Cossar cap badgePrivate George Cossar

1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders
Service No: S/41600

George Cossar grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Youngest son of William Cossar (04/091863 - ) and Hannah Christie McCall Cossar (26/02/1865 - ) of 37 Wood St, Coatbridge. From the 1901 Census - Address - 28 Main St, Coatbridge - William Cossar aged 37, Hannah Cossar aged 37, John Cossar aged 13, Thomas Cossar aged 11, Margret Cossar aged 9, Hannah Cossar aged 3 and George Cossar aged 1. George's Pension was awarded to his father William.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 37 Wood St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 18/09/1918 at the Battle of Epehy (part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line 1918)

Enlisted

Glasgow

Employed

Tailor with his father William.

Age

18 / DOB - 09/10/1899

Buried / Remembered

Bellicourt British Cemetery (IV. M. 5), Aisne, France.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

On 29 September - 2 October 1918, the Battle of the St. Quentin Canal was fought. The 46th (North Midland) Division stormed the Hindenburg Line at Bellenglise and captured 4,000 prisoners and 70 guns. The 30th United States Division captured Bellicourt and Nauroy, which were cleared by the 5th Australian Division. The North Midland and Australian dead of this engagement fill most of the graves in Bellicourt British Cemetery. Bellicourt British Cemetery contains 1,204 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 313 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 21 casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

Additional Information

The Battalion arrived at Le Havre as Army Troops on the 14/08/1914. On the 05/09/1914 they were part of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division. George was Killed in Action at the Battle of Epehy. This was part of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line, 12th September - 12th October 1918 : A series of very large scale offensive operations that advance to and break the Hindenburg Line system. Carried out by the First, Third and Fourth Armies these victories rank among the greatest-ever British military achievements. The German Army fights on but it is increasingly clear that their ability to do so is declining fast. Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and United States Divisions all play key parts. SEE PHOTOS x 8 FOR THE BATTALION WAR DIARY SEPTEMBER 1918. The War Diary states casualties for the month of September were as follows - "Officers Killed 4, Wounded 6, Other Ranks Killed 39, Wounded 194, Died of Wounds 13, Gassed (not yet diagnosed, medical term) 39, Missing 3". George's Grave photo donated by Mick McCann at the britishwargraves.co.uk. George is also remembered on the Coatbridge High School and in the St. Augustine's Parish (book) Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for George's Medal Index Card, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his Headstone Report x 2, Bellicourt British Cemetery, the Cameron Highlanders Cap Badge and George's Pension Records x 2. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 2 (Coatbridge Express x 1 and the Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1) and the 1st Division Order of Battle x 12 (the Division George was with when he died).

Photos
George Cossar Medal Index CardGeorge Cossar remembered at homeGeorge Cossar remembered at homeGeorge Cossar remembered at homeGeorge Cossar remembered at homeGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photoGeorge Cossar additional photo

War Diaries

The battalion War Diary is available on the National Archives website.

Creative Commons License

We have made this information and the images available under a Creative Commons BY-NC license. This means you may reuse it for non-commercial purposes only and must attribute it to us using the following statement: © coatbridgeandthegreatwar.com

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