Sidney Cottle

Group Captain Sidney Joseph "Jack" Cottle MBE's military career began during World War I. He became a flying ace in the latter years of the war, credited with thirteen aerial victories. His service would span three decades and three continents before his final retirement in 1944.

Early life and service Although Cottle was English-born, while young he was moved to Zululand, where he grew up. 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 (RFC) in 1917. However, he was re-employed until 1944, when he finally retired. A few years later, he moved to India. He died there on 15 August 1967.

Sidney Joseph Cottle also was awarded the Silver Medal of Military Valor by a grateful Italian government in 1918.