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Auction: 24001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 162

A Second World War M.B.E. group of eight awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel (Staff-Quartermaster) C. H. Cotes, Royal Engineers late Private 25th (County of London) Cyclist Battalion, London Regiment

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, Member's (M.B.E.) breast Badge, Military Division, silver-gilt; British War and Victory Medals (49493 Pte. C. H. Cotes. 25-Lond. R.); 1939-45 Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45, with M.I.D. oak leaf; Coronation 1937; Army L.S. & G.C., Regular Army bar; G.V.R. (6279653 W.O. Cl. II. C. H. Cotes. R.E.), light contact marks, very fine overall (8)

M.B.E. London Gazette 1 January 1944.

Cyril Harvey Cotes was born at Leicester on 22 December 1899, the son of Charles and Rose Cotes. He appears to have had a turbulent youth, being listed upon the 1901 census as the adopted son of William and Harriet Gould of 339 Humberstone Road. However this had changed by 1911 where he appears upon the census living with his mother's parents, Hezekaih and Elizabeth Harvey of 10 Chilton Terrace, Ramsgate.

Coming of age in 1917 Cotes joined the 2/23rd Battalion, London Regiment, later transferring to the East Kent Regiment. Remaining in the ranks after the war he gradually rose in seniority, being appointed Superintending Clerk on 1 April 1936 and commissioned Lieutenant (Quartermaster) on 6 July 1939.

Doing good work during the Fall of France Cotes was 'mentioned' (London Gazette 26 July 1940, refers) during the period March-July 1940. Remaining in Britian after 1940 Cotes was promoted Captain (Quartermaster) on 6 July 1945. With the end of the war he was further advanced Major on 26 June 1948 and Lieutenant-Colonel (Quartermaster) on 3 March 1954. Cotes finally retired with that last rank on 10 October 1958; sold together with army lists, London Gazette extracts and census data as well as medal rolls and M.I.C.

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Sold for
£300

Starting price
£270