COX, William Francis
| Service Number: | 2874 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 58th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Battersea, Surrey, England, 24 December 1884 |
| Home Town: | Fairfield, Fairfield, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Carpenter & Joiner |
| Died: | “Run over by Railway Train (Suicide whilst Insane).”, Woking, Surrey, United Kingdom, 18 May 1919, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Brookwood Military Cemetery, Pirbright, Surrey, England, United Kingdom Section IV, Row I, Grave 3 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 3 Nov 1916: | Involvement Private, 2874, 58th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Afric embarkation_ship_number: A19 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 Nov 1916: | Embarked Private, 2874, 58th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Afric, Sydney | |
| 16 Jul 1918: | Honoured Military Medal |
WW1
The details provided are taken from the book "Stealth Raiders - a few daring men in 1918" written by Lucas Jordan, published 2017 - refer to pages 42 & 264. Prior to the war he was a carpenter and joiner of Fairfield NSW. He enlisted 7th Sept 1916 aged 31 years. He died while in the UK 18th May 1919, run over by a railway train in Woking, Surrey. Lest we Forget, Rest in Peace.
Submitted 6 February 2020 by Maxwell HILL
2874 Pte.W.F.Cox. MM.
From Ian Fletcher
2874 Pte.W.F.Cox. MM. 58th Battalion A.I.F.
William was born in Battersea, London ,England and arrived in Australia aged 27 years, he was a married man with 3 children,his trade was a carpenter, he enlisted on the 7th September 1916, and his recommendation for the Military Medal was 16th April 1918, he was a 'stealth raider'
William ended his own life on the 18th May 1919 on the railway track here in my hometown of Woking, Surrey, England. today I visited him in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Woking.
A brave man Remembered and Not Forgotten
Submitted 2 August 2019 by Evan Evans
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick (OAM) – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
William Francis Cox was born at Battersea, Surrey, England on 24th December, 1884 to parents William & Mary Ann Cox (nee Hulse).
His father - William Cox died in 1898.
On 6th August, 1906 William Francis Cox married Mary Ann Donohoe at Catholic Church of St. John the Evangelist, Duncan Terrace, Islington, London, England.
They had the following children – William Francis Cox (born 13th April, 1907 - Shalford, Guilford, Surrey, England); Winifred Frances Cox (born 22nd February, 1909 – Woking, Surrey, England); Sydney David Cox (born August,1913 – Woking, Surrey, England) & Arthur C. Cox (born 1920 – March quarter; death registered 1920 – March quarter)
According to information provided by his wife for the Roll of Honour – William Cox came to Australia when he was 27 years old.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 7th September, 1916 as a 31 year old, married, Carpenter & Joiner from Mark Lodge, Normandy Road, Fairfield, Sydney, New South Wales.
Private William Francis Cox, Service number 2874, embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on HMAT Afric (A19) on 3rd November, 1916 with the 58th Infantry Battalion, 7th Reinforcements & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 9th January, 1917.
On 22nd November, 1916 Private Cox had been written up for Crime while on Troopship HMAT Afric (A19) – on 21st November, 1916 “Disobedience of orders ie. Smoking between decks.” He was awarded 24 hours Detention & a total forfeiture of 1 days’ pay.
Reinforcements were only given basic training in Australia. Training was completed in training units in England. Some of these were located in the Salisbury Plain & surrounding areas in the county of Wiltshire.
He was marched in to 15th Training Battalion (No. 7 Camp) at Hurdcott, Wiltshire on 10th January, 1917 (as listed on Casualty Form – Active Service, however the Purport form recorded he was marched into No. 4 Command Depot Wareham from Perham Downs.)
Private Cox proceeded overseas to France via Folkestone on 20th March, 1917 from 15th Training Battalion. He was marched in to 5th A.D.B.D. (Australian Divisional Base Depot) at Etaples, France on 21st March, 1917. Private Cox was marched out from 5th A.D.B.D. on 23rd March, 1917 & taken on strength of 58th Battalion in the Field on 26th March, 1917.
On 5th February, 1918 Private Cox was on Furlough to England & rejoined 58th Battalion in France from Leave on 20th February, 1918.
Private William Francis Cox was recommended for the Military Medal on 13th April, 1918, along with Private William Edward Deforest, 3380, 58th Battalion & Private John Stokes, 3645A, 58th Battalion. Action for which commended: “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On 5th April, 1918, East of VAIRE SOUS CORBIE, these men were detailed to protect the left flank of a Machine Gun Post which had been placed so as to enfilade VAIRE, about 300 yards in front of our position at VAIRE up the canal(?) towards BOUZENCOURT. They took up a position against a ____ about 200 yards to the left of the gun. They had to give warning to the gun of the approach of an enemy party and cover the retirement (?) of the gun if necessary. About midday 25 or 30 of the enemy appeared on the left bank. Private ____ was sent back to warn the gun. The other men worked along the ditch to the right rear of the enemy and opened fire upon them. Two men dropped – 1 killed and 1 wounded. The enemy ran back about 30 yards to another bank where the Office in charge tried to rally them. Without hesitation these men rushed across to the first bank toward the enemy with bayonets fixed, firing as they ran. As the enemy retired they were kept under rapid fire. The following Casualties were inflicted. – 1 Officer and 5 other ranks killed and 2 badly wounded were brought in. About 10 or 12 were hit but managed to escape. Our casualties were nil. The information gained from the killed and wounded was of great value.
On 7.4.1918 these men were members of a patrol which penetrated through the low timbered country along the South side of the Canal and into a farmhouse on the outskirts of BOUZENCOURT. They again displayed great courage and dash.”
Private William Francis Cox was awarded the Military Medal on 16th July, 1918. (The London Gazette – 16 July, 1918) (Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 27 November, 1918)
He was on Leave from France to UK from 28th November, 1918 to 12th December, 1918. He rejoined his Unit on 18th December, 1918.
From 13th March, 1919 to 27th March, 1919 Private Cox was on Leave from France to UK. His Leave was extended from 21st March, 1919 to 4th April, 1919.
Private Cox was granted Leave for Non Military Employment for 6 months from 21st March, 1919 to 21st September, 1919 with full military pay. Reason: Instruction in Shop Fitting & Air tight case making. Attending: Charles Spreckley, Phoenix Place Gray’s Inn Rd, London.
He was granted Leave with pay only from 21st March, 1919 to 21st September, 1919.
Private William Francis Cox died on 18th May, 1919 at Woking, Surrey, England. His N.M.E. (Non Military Employment) Leave was cancelled on 18th May, 1919.
A Court of Enquiry (no. 25465) was held & the cause of death was recorded as “Run over by Railway Train (Suicide whilst Insane).”
Newspaper item – The Globe, London, England – 19 May, 1919:
WOKING RAILWAY TRAGEDY
AUSTRALIAN EX-SOLDIER UNDER ENGINE
(From Our Own Correspondent)
Woking, Monday – As the result of signs of a tragedy on the front of a troop train engine that pulled up at Woking last evening, a search was made along the track, and two miles away the mutilated body of an Australian soldier was found.
Inquiries revealed that the man, named Cox, was demobilised, and on work furlough. His wife is living in Woking.
It is said that the authorities have discovered a witness who saw deceased deliberately dash from the embankment and throw himself at the front of the train, which was travelling at a speed of 55 miles. As he was seen on the New Zealand Golf Course earlier in the day, it is possible, however, that he was taking a short cut home.
He was buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery, Surrey, England – Australian Military Burial Ground - Plot number 183554
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c.html
Click images to start slideshow.