Sapper Robert William Cox

SAPPER ROBERT WILLIAM COX

7786 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

Born in Brisbane, Queensland on July 16, 1898 Robert William Cox was the son of Robert Cox, a boot maker and Mary Ann (nee Millington). He had completed a four-year boot-maker’s apprenticeship with Mr Robert Cox in Bundaberg, Qld. Military experience was gained with the Senior Cadets rising to the rank of 2nd Lieutenant during his four-year term. In 1917 he was residing at Howard, Qld.

At the recruiting office in Maryborough, Qld on June 23, 1917 the single, nineteen year old applied to enlist for active service abroad with the consent signatures of both his parents. Personal particulars from the application show he was 170cms (5ft 7ins) tall with a chest measurement of 86cms (34ins) and his postal address was Howard, Qld. Passing the preliminary medical examination he was accepted by the recruiting officer.

Three days later Forms of Attestation were completed giving further information. He had good vision and weighed 52.2kgs (115lbs) with a chest expansion of 81-88cms (32-34½ins). Fair was his complexion with blue eyes and brown hair. A distinctive mark was a scar on his left middle finger. Methodist was his religion. Next-of-kin was his father Mr Robert Cox of Howard, Queensland. The ‘Oath of Allegiance’ was taken and signed the same day.

Basic training commenced with an Unallotted Group at Enoggera Camp in Brisbane where Home Leave was taken from July 14 to July 29, 1917 and upon his return was sent to No. 1 Depot Company for further allocation on August 1, 1917. He went to the Miners’ Camp (1st Military District) until transferred to their training camp at Seymour, Vic on August 8. Instruction took place with the May Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies until August 28 and was relocated to Bendigo, Vic for special training finishing on November 11, 1917. He was promoted to Acting Corporal on his return to Seymour. In preparation for departure was assigned the regimental number 7786 and promoted to Corporal for the ‘voyage only’ to England. The Reinforcements camped at Broadmeadows Camp overnight on November 20 to be in readiness to board the ship the following day.

The troopship HMAT A71 Nestor departed Port Melbourne, Vic on November 21, 1917 with 168 Reinforcements on board. The voyage of twenty-five days duration terminated at the Suez on December 15, 1917 and the men disembarked going to the Australian Infantry Camp, Suez the same day.

They entrained for Alexandria on January 4, 1918 and marched into the Australian Camp Gabbary, Alexandria on January 5. Embarking on Transport E620 Abbasiah on 8 January, they disembarked at Taranto, Italy on 12 January. It was an unusual journey for the Reinforcements, who undertook train travel from Taranto to Cherbourg, France, and then crossed the channel to England terminating at Southampton on January 24, 1918. A further entrainment completed their journey to Tidworth and they marched into No. 3 Details Camp at Parkhouse. Cox reverted to the rank of Sapper on arrival at Parkhouse Camp but the next day was promoted to E.P.D. [Extra Pay Duty] Corporal until March 2, 1918 when he reverted to Sapper.

Meanwhile in Melbourne, Vic his Will had been handed to the Officer in Charge at Base Records on January 14, 1918.

The Reinforcements departed via Southampton for France on March 2, 1918 and the following day marched into the Aust General Base Depot at Rouelles. Sapper Cox was detailed to the Aust. Corps Depot on March 8, 1918.

He was assigned from Castre on March 13, 1918 to the 2nd Tunnelling Company and taken on strength two days later.

On June 7, 1918 went sick with Conjunctivitis to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station and discharged to Reinforcement Camp four days later, rejoining his unit on June 14, 1918.

He went sick to the 15th Aust. Field Ambulance on June 27, 1918 with P.U.O [Pyrexia (Fever) of Uncertain Origin] then transferred to the 61st C.C.S. He was conveyed on A.T.9 to the 11th Stationary Hospital at Rouen on June 30 and was treated for Fever until July 6, 1918 but relocated to the 73rd General Hospital at Tranville until July 22, 1918. He was released to the 1st A.C. Depot at Havre that day remaining until July 27 when discharged to A.G.B.D. at Rouelles.

He appeared before a Medical Board while at the Base Depot and was classified with a B3 disability. He returned to England on September 8 and marched into the No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth a day later. While in Westham camp his Kit was inspected on September 11 and found to be in order. After his stay in hospital on September 23, 1918 his Kit was inspected again while in Verne camp and the following articles were issued to him:

Universal Kit Bag, Hair Brush & Comb and a Towel.

On September 30 his pair of drawers were withdrawn as unserviceable and replaced. On October 3 two singlets and a Sea Kit Bag were issued. While still in Verne camp another pair of drawers were withdrawn and replaced and a pair of breeches issued on October 19, 1918.

He was diagnosed with Neurasthenia [a nervous condition suffering constant worry to the point of exhaustion] and Administration Headquarters in London recommended his return to Australia for a change. He departed as an invalid on H.T. D7 Marathon on November 6, 1918 and was on board the ship when Armistice was declared five days later. Next-of-kin was advised on December 7, 1918 of his impending return home. The ship docked in Melbourne, Vic (3rd M.D.) on January 1, 1919 and he returned to Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.).

Military Discharge took place in Brisbane, Qld (1st M.D.) on March 21, 1919.

The following article with photographs appeared in The Queenslander on March 29, 1919:

Return to Unit Forms dated April 10, and May 19, 1919 were filed and his Will was forwarded to the 1st M.D. on May 3rd 1919 for their records.

For serving his country Sapper 7786 Robert William Cox, 2nd Tunnelling Company was entitled to wear the British War Medal (32373) and the Victory Medal (20412).

A Statement of Service was forwarded to the Repatriation Department, Brisbane on September 14, 1926 and again on June 18, 1940.

Robert W. Cox returned to the Howard district in 1919 as a boot maker and in 1924 married Ione Margaret Myrtle James. Their sole residence was at 31 Frank Street, Graceville, Brisbane and his occupation remained a boot-maker.

DRIVER EDWARD MARSHALL COX

15940 – Aust Service Corps

His brother Edward Marshall Cox was born in Brisbane on August 28, 1891. Military experience was six weeks training at Part 4 Camp in Brisbane. He was unmarried and a boot salesman residing since about 1913 at St Leonard’s, Wilson Street, Paddington, Brisbane and been previously rejected for active service because of defective teeth.

At twenty-five years and eleven months of age Edward enlisted at the recruiting centre in Brisbane on August 20, 1917 for service abroad and passed the medical examination. Attestation Forms give particulars of his height of 168cms (5ft 6ins), weight of 54.5kgs (120lbs) with a chest measurement of 86cms (34ins) and had good eyesight. Four vaccinations scars received in 1913 were distinctive marks on his left arm. His father Mr Robert Cox of Howard, North Coast Line, Qld was nominated as next-of-kin. Swearing in took place the same day.

He was transferred to the Aust. Service Corps after presenting a letter dated August 27, 1917 from the Aust. Imperial Force, Camp Headquarters at Enoggera which stated:

Basic training commenced in Queensland with the A.S.C. on September 3, 1917 which concluded on November 12, 1917. During that period he was granted Home Leave from September 28 until October 3, 1917. Private Cox was transferred to their Liverpool camp, NSW for further training at the 1st Infantry Depot Battalion until January 31, 1918 when he was assigned as a Driver with the Regimental number 15940 to the February Reinforcements of the 1st Anzac M.D., A.S.C. until April 16, 1918.

Driver Cox embarked from Sydney on board H.T. Port Darwin on April 30 and disembarked at the Suez, Egypt on June 7, 1918 marching in on arrival to the No. 1 Isolation Camp at Moascar.

He marched out on September 4 and joined the Anzac Div. Training five days later and taken on strength on September 16, 1918 with No. 34 Company.

He remained with this company until June 5, 1919 when he returned to ANZ. S & T Cadre at Kantara and was attached on July 1, 1919 at Moascar.

Driver Cox returned to Australia from Egypt on July 26, 1919 on board H.T. Burma. His next-of-kin were notified of his return on August 16, 1919 and the ship arrived in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on September 1, 1919.

His Will was forwarded to the Assistant Adjutant General in the 1st Military District on August 20, 1919.

Military Discharge took place in Brisbane, Qld on September 25, 1919.

The British War Medal (33244) and the Victory Medal (31088) were awarded to Driver 15940 Edward Marshall Cox, Aust Service Corps for serving his country.

The following year in 1920 he married Lillian Gladys Holt and they lived at Alfred Street, Corinda, Brisbane and he worked as a Shop Assistant. Their residence was given as ‘Rosamore’ Harrowby Street, Corinda from 1943.

Edward Marshall Cox died in 1958 in Brisbane, Qld.

PRIVATE WALTER EDGAR COX

547 – 9th & 49th Battalion

Walter Cox was the first brother to enlist for active service abroad. He was born in Woolloongabba, South Brisbane, Qld on September 4, 1894. His military training was with the 4th Infantry Battalion. He was a boot maker by trade.

At twenty years of age he enlisted at Bundaberg, Qld on August 21, 1914 shortly after war was declared. Attestation Forms show he was 170cms (5ft 6¾ins) in height, weighed 56.8kgs (125lbs) with a chest measurement of 92cms (36ins). Sandy was his complexion with blue eyes and auburn hair. His faith was Methodist. His father Mr Robert Cox of Arthur Street, Bundaberg was named next-of-kin.

He was posted with the 9th Battalion as a Private and embarked from Brisbane on the S.S. Omrah on September 24, 1914. While on the Gallipoli Peninsula he was wounded in the forehead on May 1, 1915 and taken to the 1st Casualty Clearing Station then transferred to Kasr-el-Ainy Hospital at Cairo. After 16 days treatment was sent to Helouan.

On August 29, 1915 he was transferred to the ship Ionian suffering Gastritis and returned to his unit at Kel-el-Kebir on January 4, 1916.

A transfer to the 49th Battalion took place at Habeita on February 25, 1916 and was taken on strength two days later. The Battalion departed from Alexandria on June 5, 1916 aboard the ship Arcadian and arrived at Marseilles on June 12, 1916.

Hospitalised with Tonsillitis on July 20, 1916 he was evacuated to England on the hospital ship Dieppe entering the East General Hospital in Cambridge on July 31st. He was discharged on September 6 to the 2nd Aust. Depot at Weymouth to the 13th Training Battalion. A promotion to Acting Corporal was granted on December 1, 1916 with a further rise in rank to Acting Sergeant with pay of Extra Pay Duty Corporal on February 1, 1917.

In September, 1917 he proceeded overseas reverting to Corporal to the 4th Aust General Base Depot at Havre and rejoined his unit on September 30, 1917.

He reported sick on February 10, 1918 to the 13th Aust Field Ambulance with Diarrhoea and transferred on A.T.17 to the 8th General Stationary Hospital in Wimereux with Gastro-Enteritis on March 8, 1918. Corporal marched in on May 10, 1918 to the 4th A.I.B.D. and rejoined his unit on May 29, 1918. He was recorded with his Unit on June 16, 1918.

Corporal Cox was wounded in action and reported missing on August 11, 1918 after being captured in Bray and noted to be in German Hands on August 16, 1918. It was revealed he was in Valenciennes Hospital suffering bullet wounds to his left leg and right foot. He remained a prisoner of war until December 3, 1918 when he was released and returned to Dover, Eng. His parents at the Methodist Parsonage in Caboolture, Qld were notified of his repatriation from Germany to England on December 10, 1918.

He was granted Special Leave of 45 days with pay from January 7, 1919 staying at 303 Bennett Road, Mapperley in Nottingham and to report to London Headquarters on February 21, 1919. A further day’s leave was granted and he marched in to the R.B.A.A. Demobilisation Camp at Heytesbury. On April 14, 1919 he marched out to Hurdcott Camp to prepare for his return to Australia.

The H.T. China embarked from Devonport on May 1, 1919 for the voyage home arriving in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on June 11, 1919.

Discharge from Military Service took place on June 26, 1919 in Brisbane (1st M.D.)

His father was the Methodist Minister at Biggenden, Qld in 1919 and Corporal Cox was working there as a Labourer.

Corporal 547 Walter Edgar Cox, 9th and 49th Battalions received the 1914/19 Star (547), the British War Medal (130) and the Victory Medal (130) for serving his country.