William Alfred Henry Cotty (24 February 1875 – 6 September 1928) was a South African international rugby union player. Born in

Kimberley Kimberly or Kimberley may refer to: Places and historical events Australia * Kimberley (Western Australia) ** Roman Catholic Diocese of Kimberley * Kimberley Warm Springs, Tasmania * Kimberley, Tasmania a small town * County of Kimberley, a ...

, he attended Kimberley Boys' High School before playing provincial rugby for Griqualand West (now known as Griquas). He made his only Test appearance for South Africa during Great Britain's 1896 tour. He played as a scrum-half in the 3rd Test of the series, a 9–3 loss in Kimberley. During the Siege of Kimberley, Cotty fought as a trooper in the Kimberley Light Horse, a colonial unit of the Boer War of 1899–1902. This is unsurprising as the family were very close to

Cecil Rhodes Cecil John Rhodes (5 July 1853 – 26 March 1902) was a British mining magnate and politician in southern Africa who served as Prime Minister of the Cape Colony from 1890 to 1896. An ardent believer in British imperialism, Rhodes and his Br ...

. It was Rhodes who had sponsored the raising of this new regiment, the Kimberley Light Horse, in anticipation of conflict with the Boers and shortly prior to the Siege of Kimberley. The Kimberley regiment is one of only two regiments of the British Empire holding as a Battle Honour the defence of its own city - in this instance Defence of Kimberley. Bill Cotty received the Defence of Kimberley clasp and the Kimberley Star for his service. Cotty died in 1928, in Kimberley, at the age of 53.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cotty, Bill 1875 births 1928 deaths British military personnel of the Second Boer War Rugby union players from Kimberley, Northern Cape Rugby union scrum-halves South Africa international rugby union players South African rugby union players Griquas (rugby union) players