The Barry Hobbs Collection of Great War Medals
D.C.M. London Gazette 14 January 1916 (citation published 11 March 1916): ‘For conspicuous gallantry. Cpl. Cox went out, under Maxim fire, to search for a wounded man. Finding him dead, he returned, and the body was brought in later. He has always shown great bravery, and a readiness to undertake any work, however dangerous.’ (Annotated Gazette states ‘12 April 1915’).
Henry George Cox was born on 29 September 1891 at Rotherhithe, London, the son of Charles William and Caroline Golding Cox and attested for the Royal Fusiliers in February 1910. He served with the 1st Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 7 September 1914 and was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry at Chapelle d’Armentierés in April 1915. Although the Annotated Gazette gives a date of 12 April for this award, the battalion was out of the line on that date and it is clear from the war diary that the award was in connection with a reconnaissance at Chapelle d’Armentiéres on 2 April in which Pte. W. Thurston was wounded:
‘Friday 2 April 1915:
...Pte W. Thurston of ‘A’ Company volunteered to accompany Lt. James (attached Shropshire L.I.) on a dangerous reconnaissance. Their movements were observed by the Germans who put up 2 or 3 flares and then opened with machine guns. Pte Thurston, though mortally wounded, insisted on Lt. James continuing the reconnaissance. Lt. James spoke in the highest terms of Pte. Thurston’s conduct. Unfortunately Pte Thurston died just before being brought back to the trenches.’
On 8 June 1915, Sergeant Cox was admitted to 2nd General Hospital at Le Havre having suffered a gun shot wound to his left hand whilst his battalion was in trenches near La Brique. Upon recovery, he returned to his battalion and was later transferred to the 21st (4th Public School) Battalion. On 16 April 1916, having served 6 years and 46 days in the ranks, he was discharged to a commission with the 6th Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment.)
Sent up to trenches facing Ovillers on the 2nd July 1916, Cox was killed in action the following day as the 6th Buffs attacked and bombed the German lines, only withdrawing after supplies of bombs had run out. He was among the 274 casualties suffered by the battalion that day and is buried at Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
D.C.M. London Gazette 19 August 1916: ‘For conspicuous Gallantry during a raid on the enemy’s trenches. He displayed the greatest coolness throughout and did fine work. With his officer he was the last to leave the enemy’s parapet after all the wounded had been removed.’ (Annotated Gazette states ‘Angres 8/9 July 1916’).
Charles William Cox, younger brother of the above, was born in 1894 at Rotherhithe, London. He attested for the 22nd London Regiment (The Queen’s) at Bermondsey in 1913 and served with the 1/22nd during the Great War on the Western Front from 15 March 1915. Advanced Sergeant, he was awarded the D.C.M. for gallantry during a trench raid carried out by his battalion at Angres on 8/9 July 1916.
Having arrived in the firing line at Angres on 5 July 1916, precise instructions for a raid on the German trenches opposite were given to the battalion by Lieut-Col. V. A. Flower on 7 July and are contained in an appendix in the war diary. The objectives of the raid were as follows: ‘To obtain prisoners and identifications; to kill Germans; to obtain information; to obtain loot and enemy novelties; to ascertain whether mining works are in progress; to ascertain whether gas is installed; and to destroy M.G. emplacements.’
The raid itself, also described in some detail in the war diary, commenced at 11.55pm on 8 July: ‘In the first raid, Capt. Mayhew’s Party easily got through the enemy wire and into their trench, which they found unoccupied. There were however many dugouts with lights burning, and fully occupied by men believed to be from a working party which had taken shelter therein on the outbreak of the bombardment. When called on, none of the men would come out, and as the time was strictly limited, about 14 dug-outs were bombed, with believed heavy losses to the Germans. On the withdrawal signal our men returned, Captain Mayhew bringing up the rear. Our casualties were one other rank (Pte Mahoney) killed, one officer (Lieut. C. G. Tomlin) severely wounded and 15 other ranks wounded, all of whom were brought back to our trenches. For this attack, the party had been carefully trained for over a fortnight. Every man knew his task and many experiments had been made with clothing and equipment.’
The war diary entry for 24 July lists Cox as a recipient of one the two D.C.M.s announced in connection with this raid. Also awarded were two M.C.s (including one to Captain Mayhew) and five M.M.s.
Sergeant Cox, ‘A’ Company, was killed in action on 8 October 1916 during the night attack on Diagonal Trench in the l’Eaucourt l’Abbaye sector. The battalion objective on this occasion being ‘a point at which the enemy were suspected to have a strong post with machine guns’. Losses to the battalion were: officers - 2 killed or died of wounds, 3 wounded; other ranks - 5 killed, 103 wounded and 21 missing.
Having no known grave, Charles William Cox is remembered with honour on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Note: The CWGC ascribes Cox the post nominals, D.C.M. M.M. No confirmation of the M.M. has been found.
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