COX, George Sanford
| Service Number: | 2345 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 12th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana, 28 January 1867 |
| Home Town: | Mackay, Mackay, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Heart disease, No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England, 28 January 1918, aged 51 years |
| Cemetery: |
Sutton Veny (St. John) Churchyard, Wiltshire, England Plot 320, Row D, Grave No. 10 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 26th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Oct 1915: | Involvement Private, 2345, 26th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Brisbane embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Oct 1915: | Embarked Private, 2345, 26th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Warilda, Brisbane | |
| 1 Mar 1916: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 12th Infantry Battalion, detached to Bikaner Camel Corps from 30/3/1916 to 22/10/1916 |
Help us honour George Sanford Cox's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland
Died on this date – 28th January.... George Sandford Cox was born in 1867 at Demerara, British Guania.
George Sandford Cox was listed on the Australian Electoral Roll in 1913 in the Division of Herbert, subdivision of Mackay, Queensland. He was living at the Shamrock Hotel & was a Labourer.
George Sandford Cox stated he was a 45 year old, single, Labourer (Sugar Planter) from Mackay, Queensland when he enlisted on 18th August, 1915 with the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.). He embarked from Brisbane on HMAT Warialda (A69) on 5th October, 1915 with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements.
Private Cox was transferred to 12th Battalion at Zeitoun on 1st March, 1916 then detached to duty with Bikaner Camel Corps on 30th March, 1916.
Private Cox was taken on strength of Details Camp at Moascar from Bikaner Camel Corps on 29th August, 1916. He embarked from Alexandria on 22nd October, 1916.
A Medical Report “on an Invalid” was made on 23rd February, 1917 on Private George Stanford Cox - his disability was “Over age”. Private Cox had stated “that his real age is 51, but that he gave his age on enlistment as 45. Says that he cannot manage hard military training. His spirit is willing, but his flesh is weak.”
The Medical Board found on 14th March, 1917 that Private Cox’s condition was “An old man turning grey & looks quite 51. Heart & Lungs in good condition….. Suitably employed as pioneer corporal.” He was found to be permanently unfit for General Service but fit for Home Service – C1 by the Medical Board at Larkhill on 27th March, 1917.
A Medical Report on 20th April, 1917 found Private Cox’s disability to be “Overage & unable for Bayonet Exercise.” Private Cox had stated that “after enlistment he had good health & did not find active service (was in one engagement) a trouble, but since transferring to England feels left leg weaker & does not feel able for strenuous infantry work. Liked his work with Camel Corps & did not feel tired when as engaged apart from little weakness has had good health in England.” The Medical Board found that Private Cox “looks well for age & is a good figure of a man……is usefully employed as Corporal with the Pioneers at the Camp.”
Private George Sandford Cox died on 28th January, 1918. Cause of death – “Died suddenly in Lines. Cardiac failure due to Myocardial degeneration. No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Wiltshire”.
A memo from Lieut-Colonel Commanding 1st Training Brigade A.I.F. dated 29th January, 1918 to Headquarters A.I.F Depots in U.K. Tidworth, concerning the death of 2345 A/Cpl. Cox, G.S. – 12th Bn reads:
“The above named N.C.O. died suddenly to-day. He was sitting in the Canteen reading and it was noticed that he suddenly collapsed. Medical aid was summoned but life was extinct when the Medical Officer arrived. A post mortem re cause of death will be held to-morrow, the result of which will be notified to you.
Private George Sandford Cox was buried in St. John the Evangelist Churchyard at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire, England where 140 other WW1 Australian Soldiers & 2 Australian Nurses are buried.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c---e.html
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