Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Arthur COX born 18th May 1891 in Hoxton, Shoreditch LONDON is my fathers, mothers, brother, in other words he is my Granduncle.

Arthur and his younger brother William immigrated to Australia sometime before 1913. They were “Dreadnought Boys”. And they were initially sent to the camp at Scheyville near Windsor N.S.W. Scheyville was to later to gain its own Military history. On ‘escaping’ from Scheyville, both later gained employment in Queensland.

On the outbreak of the Great War, at the ages of 28 and 19 Arthur and William both enlisted on 3rd March 1915 they had consecutive serial numbers in the A.I.F, 602 and 603, both were single, both stated their employment as “packer” and they both named their father Arthur COX of 158 Manor Place Walworth Road, LONDON S.E, as the next of kin. The 25th Battalion was raised at Enoggera in Queensland in March 1915 as part of the 7th Brigade. Although predominantly composed of men recruited in Queensland, the Battalion also included a small contingent of men from Darwin.

The battalion left Australia and embarked aboard H.M.A.T A60 Aeneas on the 29th of June 1915, trained in Egypt during August, and by early September was manning trenches at Gallipoli.

At Gallipoli the 7th Brigade reinforced the depleted New Zealand and Australian Division. The 25th Battalion, however, had a relatively quiet time because the last major Allied offensive had been launched, and turned back, in the previous month. It left the peninsular on 18th December 1915.

After further training in Egypt, where Arthur committed his first absent without leave (A.W.O.L) offence for this he was “admonished”. The 25th Battalion including Arthur proceeded to France. Landing at Marseillas on 19 March 1916, it was the first AIF battalion to arrive there. On the 18th of July 1916 William became very ill and was transferred to Hospital in England, infected Lymph Glands in the neck and groin was the diagnoses. He was declared permanently unfit for War Service and was discharged from the A.I.F on his return to Australia on the 29th of March 1917.

Meanwhile now fighting as part of the 2nd Division, the battalion took part in its first major battle at Pozièères between 25th July 1916 and 7th August 1916 in the course of which it suffered 785 casualties. Arthur was one of these suffering a gunshot wound to the right thigh on 5th August 1916. Arthur was transferred to Waverley Abby Hospital in England. During his recovery he went A.W.O.L from 6th November 1916 to 1st January 1917 for this offence he was sentenced to 60 days detention and the loss of 160 days' pay.
He was sent to a training brigade in England and again went A.W.O.L from 2nd November 1917 to 7th November 1917 for this offence he served 12 days detention, and the loss of 18 days' pay. Meanwhile back in France after a spell in a quieter sector of the front in Belgium, the 2nd Division came south in October to attack again in the Somme Valley. The 25th Battalion took part in two attacks to the east of Flers, both of which floundered in the mud.
Although it acted in a supporting role at the second battle of Bullecourt, the 25th Battalion did not carry out a major offensive role again until 20th September 1917, when it was part of the 2nd Division’s first wave at the battle of Menin Road in Belgium. Victory here was followed up with the capture of Broodseinde Ridge on 4th October. On 11th December 1917 Arthur arrived back in France and rejoined his Battalion. The 25th reprised its role from Menin Road, in what was its last large-scale offensive action for the year. Arthur was granted leave back in England from 14th February 1918 to 3rd March 1918. No A.W.O.L?

1918 was an exhausting year for the 25th Battalion. It fought to turn back the German spring offensive in April, and then participated in battles at Morlancourt, Hamel, Amiens and along the Somme Valley as the German Army was pushed ever closer to defeat. These actions sapped the strength of the AIF, already terribly weak due to earlier casualties and lack of reinforcements. On 8th August 1918 Arthur was wounded in action again, this time a more serious gunshot wound that shattered his left leg. On the 12th of August 1918 Arthur was admitted to the General Hospital Stourbridge in England.

Despite his injuries Arthur travelled to Scotland and was married to Margaret WEBSTER with her father William as witness, on Christmas day 25th December 1918. It appears she was the reason for his previous occasions of A.W.O.L? True to form Arthur went A.W.O.L from 31st December 1918 to the 15th of January 1919, a honeymoon? This time after a Court Martial, gaining 28 days detention and the loss of 43 days' pay.

Meanwhile in September 1918, the 25th was one of several battalions ordered to disband to reinforce others. Its troops mutinied, winning the Battalion a temporary reprieve.

The battalion went into the line one last time on 3rd October 1918 and took part in a successful attack to break through the German defenses around Beaurevoir. It was disbanded nine days later.
During that turbulent time Arthur remained in England recovering and was returned to Australia arriving in Sydney on 15th October 1919. On the 18th of January 1920 he was discharged from the A.I.F as “medically unfit”. His wife Margaret had by then joined him in Queensland where they settled down and made a home, there in December 1920 Margaret gave birth to a son who, sadly died shortly after birth and later two surviving daughters, Norma and Olive.

Service Record WWI
Name COX, ARTHUR
Service A.I.F
Service Number 602
Date of Birth 18 May 1891
Place of Birth LONDON, ENGLAND
Date of Enlistment 3/3/1915
Locality on Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Place of Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Next of Kin COX, Arthur (father)
Date of Discharge 23/7/1919?
Rank Pvt
Posting at Discharge 7th Infantry Brg 25th Batt, Company C
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
W.I.A 1918 shot to left leg
Prisoner of War No

This is NOT the end of our ANZAC story for Arthur COX, after the outbreak of hostilities in WW2 at the age of 50 and despite being previously discharged as ‘Medically Unfit’. Arthur re-enlisted in the Australian Army. He signed up in Queensland on 18th March 1942. His occupation was given as “Mechanic G.2 P.M.G Department”. He named his wife Margaret as next of kin and they were living at Selby Street Bardon Qld. He initially served full time in Queensland. Clearly his civilian skills, gained between wars with the Postmaster General Department was recognized and was needed, he was posted to Unit 1 Aust L of C Signals (P.M.G) his rank was Signaler. I can report that an older and wiser Arthur COX recorded NO offences against military discipline during his WW2 service.

He was discharged honorably on 19th January 1945. He remained on the reserve list, serving part time. He died in Brisbane General Hospital on the 8th of August 1945 aged just 54 years, and he was given a military cremation, I presume on the wishes of his wife. Cause of death was given as “sinus trouble”? Arthur’s daughter Olive Margaret COX also joined up in WWII on 4th Jan 1943 she served in the W.A.A.F in Brisbane.

Arthur clearly struggled with health issues in the years between the Wars. It appears in addition to several gunshot wounds, Arthur was ‘gassed’. Arthur was denied a pension and after his death his widow was also denied a pension. This appears to me under the circumstances to be rather harsh considering the service and sacrifice Arthur gave to this country. Yet none of this prevented his reenlistment in WW2.

The “burial return” from his WW2 service record indicates he died from ‘natural causes’ due to ‘sinus trouble’. That appears to be rather flippant considering his age and circumstances. A letter found in his reparation file indicates his exposure to ‘gas’ may have had a large part to play in his ‘sinus trouble’. Also reading the records it appears Arthur was moved from fulltime service to ‘part-time’ as his medical issues worsened.

It appears to me Arthur died whist serving in WW2 from causes that had resulted from his WW1 service. Then he was “cremated” with no indication of the whereabouts of his ashes, so we have no name on the honor roll and no Commonwealth tombstone to visit and pay respects to. Very little remains to show for all that this man gave and suffered for in the service of his adopted country.

Interestingly Arthur was keen to join up for WW2 such that he made no mention of his WW1 ‘Medical Discharge’ on his WW2 Attestation form, stating only the reason for his discharge from the Army was the ‘end of War’? And that he supported his 19-year-old daughter to enlist as well. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

The Army could have easily found Arthur’s medical history, but they did not.

Sadly, despite some research, the whereabouts of Arthur`s ashes are still UNKNOWN, also missing are two of the three medals awarded for service in WW1. The one surviving medal was in the care of his sister (my grandmother), I now have custody of this heirloom and his service medal for WW2, I have been unable to find or connect with any direct descendants of Arthur COX. I suspect if his daughters married and had children then they may well be still in Queensland as I was born there too.
Service Record WWII
Name COX, ARTHUR
Service Australian Army
Service Number Q155417
Date of Birth 18 May 1891
Place of Birth LONDON, ENGLAND
Date of Enlistment 18 Mar 1942
Locality on Enlistment BARDON, QLD
Place of Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Next of Kin COX, MARGARET
Date of Discharge 17/01/1945
Rank Sig
Posting at Discharge 1 Aust L of C Sigs (PMG)
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No

Service Record WWII
Name COX, OLIVE MARGARET (daughter of Arthur Cox)
Service Royal Australian Air Force
Service Number 101206
Date of Birth 19 Feb 1924
Place of Birth BRISBANE, QLD
Date of Enlistment 4 Jan 1943
Locality on Enlistment BARDON, QLD
Place of Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Next of Kin COX, ARTHUR
Date of Discharge 18 Oct 1945
Rank Corporal
Posting at Discharge BRISBANE WIRELESS/TELEGRAPHIC STATION
WW2 Honours and Gallantry None for display
Prisoner of War No

Grand Uncle Arthur did not cover himself in glory flying the clear blue skies, he did not suffer and die like the other great War heroes in some god forsaken POW camp.

He had stood in the muddy trenches next to the many whose stories may never be told. But he did not die for his county in those faraway lands of Turkey and France like they did. However, he did go to all those places, and he did stand next to many and he saw them fall in service of our County, he was shot at least three times and gassed at least once.

We have no idea of the stories behind the battles where he suffered his wounds, we have no idea where he was when he dodged death so many times.

He survived WW1 and lived his life suffering constant pain and nightmares, yet when the time came again he put his hand up once more and was taken on AGAIN for WW2 service.

Yes, no doubt he sat a desk this time, but we have an idea that he did important work for the Army in those troubled times. All we know is that at over 50 years old, he did not fight overseas but served, nevertheless. We only know he was to die a painful inglorious death in 1945 in a Brisbane Military hospital from what was clearly from some form of Cancer, no doubt exasperated from the effects of his gassings, and yes, he was a non-smoker

We don’t have a wonderful tomb to cry by or a memorial to honour, he was cremated by the Army and we have no idea where his ashes ended up. His name is NOT on the Roll of Honour of our brave war dead in Canberra. Maybe it should be?

Nevertheless, he deserves to have his story told and he deserves to honored amongst the many other heroes from ALL the conflicts our country has been involved in.

More on Grand Uncle William:
Service Record WWI
Name COX, WILIAM
Service A.I.F
Service Number 603
Date of Birth ABT 1896
Place of Birth LONDON, ENGLAND
Date of Enlistment 3/3/1915
Locality on Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Place of Enlistment BRISBANE, QLD
Next of Kin COX, Arthur (father)
Date of Discharge 29/3/1917
Rank Pvt
Posting at Discharge 7th Infantry Brg 25th Batt, Company C
WW1 Honours and Gallantry None for display
W.I.A ? (SICK)
Prisoner of War No

Little more is known of William however from a letter he wrote, found in his WW1 record, to the Department of Defence, he was still alive in 1967 and he too was living in Bardon Queensland, and it is believed that he also brought home a bride from England. He too must have meet her and married whilst recovering from his illness. At this stage I don’t know her name or if they had children.

Dear Michael,

Thanks for your patience, I have managed to find the records for the late Arthur Cox, our records state that his ashes were scattered over our rosebeds, there is no physical plaque placed in our grounds for him.

Thank you

Regards

Melissa Reid
Family Services Manager
Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens | InvoCare
Nursery Road, Holland Park, QLD 4121
Ph 3349 2001, Mobile 0408646631, Fax (07) 3349 2068
www.mtthompsoncrem.com.au