Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Edward Cotton, a hosiery trade worker, born 1848 in Hinckley, Leics., and his wife Ruth Cotton (nee Payne), a hosiery trade seamer, born 1848 in Hinckley, Leics. Edward Charles, a schoolboy, was born in 1887 in Hinckley, Leics., his siblings were, Alice, a shirt finisher, born 1873, Sarah Ann, a shirt and pants finisher, born 1874 and Herbert E., a schoolboy, born 1879, all his siblings were born in Hinckley, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at 5, Davenport Terrace, Ten Acre, Hinckley, Leics. In March 1901 Edward was employed as a hosiery warehouse apprentice and was residing in the family home at 5, Davenport Terrace, Hinckley, Leics., together with his parents and siblings, Sarah, a shirt worker and Herbert a hosiery warehouseman, also residing with the family was his nephew, Royston Draper, born 1897 in Hinckley, Leics. In April 1911 Edward was employed as a grocer’s assistant and was residing in the family home at 25, Davenport Terrace, Hinckley, Leics., together with his parents and sibling, Sarah, a hosiery trade worker, also residing with the family was his nephew, John Draper, born 1905 in Hinckley, Leics. Edward died from the effects of being gassed.