Sidney Cottle

Background

Although Cottle was English-born, while young he was moved to Zululand, where he grew up.

Career

His service would span three decades and three continents before his final retirement in 1944. He was dubbed "the man with the funny elbows" by the locals. In 1914, he enlisted in the South African Mounted Rifles.

He served with them until he transferred into the Royal Flying Corps in 1917.

He was commissioned in the Reconstruction Finance Corporation on 27 July 1917. He was forwarded to 45 Squadron in Italy to fly a Sopwith Camel.

On 18 May, Cottle singlehandedly scored his second victory, setting an Albatros Doctorate.III afire. On 30 May 1918, Cottle was wounded in action.

On 5 July 1918, Cottle set an LVG two-seater on fire.

lieutenant was last seen still apparently under control. Number score, though it was ruled "driven down". He did score twice more in July, though, becoming an ace on its last day.

The four wins pushed his total to eleven confirmed wins.

At this point, 45 Squadron shifted theaters, from Italy back to France, thus removing Cottle from combat for a time. Cottle then scored on both 3 and 5 November 1918, ending the war with thirteen confirmed victories and that one flaming unconfirmed.

Cottle stayed in the Royal Air Force and became a Flight Commander in 79 Squadron in 1919. He then transferred into 48 Squadron in India.

Cottle was then transferred to Iraq in 1924.

In 1932, he was assigned to duty with the Egyptian Air Force. He was promoted to Group Captain in 1940 which was his rank on retirement on 21 June 1941. However, he was re-employed until 1944.

He then finally retired.

A few years later, he moved to India. He died there on 15 August 1967.

Achievements

• Sidney Joseph Cottle was awarded the Administration Member of the Order of the British Empire by his king for his service. The text of the award citation for the Distinguished Flying Cross reads: Lieutenant (T/Captain) Jack Cottle. "On the 20th of August this officer engaged a two-seater, which crashed. On the evening of the same date he shot down another two-seater, which fell within our lines. In all he has destroyed or shot down seven enemy machines. He is a determined leader of patrols, and conspicuous for devotion to duty". Sidney Joseph Cottle also was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor by a grateful Italian government in 1918.

Personality

He is a determined leader of patrols, and conspicuous for devotion to duty".

Connections

enemy:

Josef Pürer