Allied Victory Medal 1914-19, awarded to A/Corporal William Cotter, 6th (Service) Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Circular, bronze medal designed by William McMillan with a figure of Winged Victory holding a palm branch on the obverse. On the reverse, the inscription, 'The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919', within a laurel wreath. The medal is suspended from a double rainbow coloured medal ribbon.

Acting Corporal William Richard Cotter (1882-1916) served with the 1st and 6th Battalions of The Buffs (East Kent Regiment) between 1902 and 1916. He served in India (1902-1903), Aden (1903-1904), and on the Western Front during World War One (1914-1918). He was serving with the 6th Battalion, part of 37th Brigade, 12th Eastern Division, when he was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in action on 6-7 March 1916, near the Hohenzollern Redoubt at Loos, France. Cotter died in hospital of his wounds at Lillers on 14 March 1916, aged 33.