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From: mdrew@tig.com.au
Date: 2/3/2001
Time: 9:40:03 AM
Remote Name: 203.173.130.25
Cotter, of course, was one of Australia's great pre-WW1 cricketers - which I presume is why you have an interest. He is one of only two Australian Test cricketers to have been killed in active service. I have found in my cricket library some general references to his death. Rick Smith in Australian Test Cricketers merely says he was "killed by a sniper at Beersheba in Palestine." Jack Pollard in his more definitive tome Australian Cricket: The Game and the Players says "In 1917, , as a Trooper in the Australian Light Horse, he defied an order so that he could take part in the charge on Beersheba. When the Australians over-ran Beersheba they went back to tend to their wounded and found Cotter. He died soon afterwards of wounds inflicted by a machine-gun. He was 33."
Cotter played 21 Tests for Australia taking 89 wickets at an average of 28.64. He played Test cricket from 1904 - 1912 when he withdrew from the Australian side in a dispute over conditions for the tour of England.
Sorry. I know that's not very much. You probably already have much more than that but it might help.
Michael Drew