Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Crispianus Cotton, a Co-op store manager, born 1871 in Longford, Derbys., and his wife Sarah Ann Cotton (nee Vardy), born 1876 in Somercotes, Derbys. Cris was born in 1899 in Swanwick, Derbys., in March 1901 the family home was at The Green, Alfreton, Swanwick, Derbys. In April 1911 Cris was a schoolboy and was residing in the family home at 61, Toothill Road, Loughborough, Leics., together with his father, now a grocer, his mother assisting in the business and his siblings, Fred, a schoolboy, born 1902 and Charles Stanley, a schoolboy, born 1904, the latter two siblings were both born in Swanwick, Derbys., George Clifford, born 1908 and Kenneth Edgar, born 1910, the latter two siblings were both born in Riddings, Derbys. Although his name is recorded in some documents as Cris Burrows Cotton, when registered at birth his name was recorded at Cris Cotton.