The war memorial in the churchyard was erected by the Rector of St Nicholas whose son, Geoffrey Ellwood, died in the First World War. It is said to be a copy of the one at Magdelen College, Oxford where Geoffrey studied. The memorial also has the names of nine other villagers who died. Somewhere in the churchyard is buried Frank Fountain who had passed his army medical and was waiting to be called up when he died from an epileptic fit. Although he is recorded as having been buried in Cottesmore, we cannot locate his grave. Cottesmore's own website has other information about the village and the First World War.