Arthur John COX DCM

Arthur John COX DCM Update Details

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COX, Arthur John

Service Number:	85
Enlisted:	18 August 1914, Returned to Australia in February 1919 (1914 Leave).
Last Rank:	Staff Sergeant
Last Unit:	4th Light Horse Regiment
Born:	Gosport, Hampshire, England, 1880
Home Town:	Lithgow, Lithgow, New South Wales
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Assayer
Memorials:

World War 1 Service

18 Aug 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 85, 4th Light Horse Regiment, Returned to Australia in February 1919 (1914 Leave).
19 Oct 1914:	Embarked Private, 85, 4th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Wiltshire, Melbourne
19 Oct 1914:	Involvement Private, 85, 4th Light Horse Regiment, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Wiltshire embarkation_ship_number: A18 public_note: ''
24 Jan 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Staff Sergeant, 4th Light Horse Regiment
31 Oct 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Staff Sergeant, 85, 4th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Beersheba
31 Oct 1917:	Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle of Beersheba, Awarded DCM for single-handedly capturing an enemy machine & crew of five, while himself under heavy fire.
24 Feb 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Staff Sergeant, 85, 4th Light Horse Regiment

Help us honour Arthur John Cox's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Robert Wight

Among the many courageous acts during the famous Light Horse charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917, that of 37 year old, British born, Boer War veteran, Armorer Staff Sergeant Arthur John Cox perhaps stands out.

Charging the Ottoman trenches and under heavy fire, he noticed a fresh machine gun crew setting up to place enfilade fire into the Australians. He swung his horse 90 degrees and charged the position, waving his pistol above his head, eventually capturing the enemy machine gun, its crew and its reserve crew single-handedly.

Unofficial reports claim he captured 40 men and he was in fact recommended for the VC.

In the end, he received the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the official citation stating he captured five men and the gun.

Cox returned to Australia in February 1919.

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