Coster, B T
BERTIE THOMAS COSTER
Has no entry in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission’s dataset, or in the Soldiers Died in the Great War database.
He attested in the Royal Field Artillery Territorial Force 15 October 1913 in Watford: a shoeing smith aged 21, 5’5″ tall, next-of-kin his father of Leavesden, Herts. His service number was 890576, he joined as a Driver, and was appointed Shoeing Smith 5 August 1914, his date of mobilisation. He was awarded three days detention for disobeying orders and reverted to Driver 4 June 1915.
He served at Home from 15 October 1913 until 16 November 1915 when he embarked from Southampton 17 November, arriving Le Havre the following day. He served with the B.E.F. in France until 3 February 1916 and embarked from Marseilles 4 February 1916 with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force, arriving Alexandria 10 February 1916. He served in this theatre of war until 14 September 1917, during which time he was posted as Driver to 272 Brigade Ammunition Column. He was admitted to 1/3 Low Field Ambulance 23 August 1917 with bronchitis; admitted to 19 General Hospital, Alexandria, 27 August 1917; and invalided to England on board Kalyon 23 October 1917. He was admitted to New End Military Hospital, Hampstead, London, 5 November 1917 and discharged 24 November.
He was discharged from the Army 6 December 1917 as physically unfit for service, with a tubercle of the lungs, the Medical Board’s verdict being that although the condition originated in 1914, it was attributable to and aggravated by service during the present war due to prolonged strain and exposure; the Board recommended he enter a sanatorium. He was awarded a pension of 27/6 per week, and was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914-15 Star medals, his qualifying date being 18 November 1915, as well as the Silver War Badge issued 7 December 1917.
Son of Edward and Eva (nee WARNER) COSTER.
His parents married 2 October 1887 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s, Herts. Edward died 21 December 1941 in Watford aged 76; Eva died 17 February 1955 in Bricket Wood, Herts, aged 88.
Bertie was born 1892 in St Alban’s, and baptised 28 August 1892 at St Peter’s, St Alban’s. He died 1918 and was buried 16 February at All Saints, Leavesden, aged 25; he lived in Garston.
On the 1901 Census, aged 7 he lived in Leavesden, with his parents and four siblings. On the 1911 Census, a cowman on a farm aged 17, he still lived in Leavesden, with his parents and two siblings.
Rank
DriverUnit
272nd Brigade Ammunition ColumnRegiment
Place buried
Date of death
06/02/1918Age at death
25Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
His brothers: Harry died 19 February 1917; George died 16 June 1917; Edward died 25 October 1918; and also feature on this Roll of Honour- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)