Mr. Cotton?

[michaeldr]

In preparation for a possible land campaign against Turkey, Kitchener instructed Birdwood (then in Egypt) to confer with Admiral Carden who commanded the fleet at the Dardanelles.

On 28^th February 1915, Birdwood arrived on the Swiftsure at Imbros (bad weather had ruled out Tenedos).

An account by the captain of the Agamemnon mentions Birdwood's arrival that day. He also says that travelling with Birdwood were Colonel Sheen and Mr Cotton.

Sheen is almost certainly Andrew Skeen, but who was Mr. Cotton?

 

Thanks for any enlightenment

Michael

[Uncle George]

A ‘Mr’ travelling with Skeen suggests a member of the Indian Civil Service. Sir Henry Cotton and his son Evan do not seem to fit the bill, but maybe your chap is Sir Henry’s second son Julian James, who also served in the Indian Civil Service.

[michaeldr]

That sounds like a good bet, Uncle George

The only Cotton to appear in Birdwood's autobiography Khaki and Gown is back in India in the late 1920s

however there were five or six generations of Cottons serving the Raj in one way or another

and this chap could well be one of them; but which one?

 

regards

Michael

[seaJane]

If he was ICS then there may be records in the India Office catalogue on the British Library website.

https://www.bl.uk/collection-guides/india-office-records