COX, George Alexander
| Service Numbers: | 2545, 2345 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 6 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 1st Machine Gun Battalion |
| Born: | Charlton, Victoria, Australia, 2 January 1892 |
| Home Town: | Bendigo, Greater Bendigo, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farmer |
| Died: | Charlton, Victoria, Australia, 20 November 1966, aged 74 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Charlton Cemetery, Victoria |
| Memorials: | Bendigo St. John's Presbyterian Church Honour Roll, Shire of Charlton Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 6 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 2545, 8th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 2345, 8th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 2345, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 2 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 14 Aug 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 8th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm | |
| 30 Sep 1916: | Involvement AIF WW1, 2345, 8th Infantry Battalion, Typed note in Attestation papers for award of a MID for a successful raid. Would be the Holobeke Raid, 30th September 1916 | |
| 4 Jun 1917: | Transferred AIF WW1, Private, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 20 Sep 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Menin Road | |
| 4 Oct 1917: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 2345, 2nd Machine Gun Company, Broodseinde Ridge | |
| 16 Mar 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 1 Apr 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , France | |
| 14 Apr 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2345, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , German Spring Offensive 1918, Hazebrouck | |
| 9 Aug 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 2345, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , The Battle of Amiens | |
| 8 Sep 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 2nd Machine Gun Company | |
| 24 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 2345, 1st Machine Gun Battalion , RTA 4 July 1919 and discharged (TPE). | |
| 24 Oct 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Corporal, 2345, 2nd Machine Gun Company, 3rd MD |
Help us honour George Alexander 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
Married in England
Cpl George Cox married Florence Catherine Mojannet on the 13/2/1919 at the Congregational Caple, Rectory Place, Woolwich, England. Returned to Australia with Catherine, 14/7/1919.
Mentioned in Dispatches:
Involvement of a raid on the German trenches near Hollebeke on the night of 30th Sept/1st Oct, Lt Evans was in command of the left raiding party. He trained his men so well that they do the work with calm regularity and precision in very great danger. He took his post on the enemy parapet and controlled his party with great coolness. The party killed one German and brought to our lines one wounded German from whom the necessary identification was established. His fine leadership was to a very great extent responsible for the success of his party. Lieutenant Colonel (later Major General) Gordon Bennett, Commanding Officer
For further details see:
1. Joynt, WD. ‘Breaking the road for the rest’. Hyland House, Melbourne, 1979
2. Lay, P. Diary of Percy Lay, 1914-1918. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1357964?image=1, 1918.
3. Capt David Gerald Evans' VWMA page
https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/232126
Biography contributed by Larna Malone
George Alexander Cox was born in Charlton, Victoria, the son of Thomas and Mrs Cox. The family later moved to Bendigo, where they lived at 14 Nettle St Bendigo.
George Alexander Cox was the first of the three Cox brothers to enlist, and the only one to enlist in Charlton. He volunteered for service on 26.2.15 aged 23 years and 1 month. He was a Farmer and was described as being 5’ 4¾”in height, with a ruddy complexion, blue eyes and reddy brown hair. He entered the Broadmeadows Training Depot on 6.3.15 and the following month was appointed to the 6th Reinforcements of the 7th Battalion. On 17.6.15 he was transferred to the 7th Reinforcements of the 8th Battalion. He embarked for service overseas on 16.7.15, with Service No. 2345.
On 12.8.15 he was diagnosed as suffering with “Diarrhoea” and was admitted to hospital in Malta. He re-joined his unit at Anzac, but on 3rd October was again ill and was admitted to the Field Ambulance in Rest Gully. He was discharged two days later. In November, 1915, he was again admitted to hospital in Malta before being transferred to England. On this occasion the diagnosis was Enteritis. He re-joined the 8th Battalion in France on 8.8.16.
A note in his Service Record states that on 30th September, 1916, he was complimented by the Divisional Commander for his participation in a successful raid. The 8th Battalion War Diary records that a Raiding Party had raided the enemy’s trench. The raid had been a complete success and “the work of all ranks was o/a brilliant courageous nature.” Congratulations had been received from Army Corps, Divisional and Brigade Commanders.[awm 8th Battalion War Diary AWM4 23/25/21 September 1916]
On 11.5.17 George Alexander Cox was transferred to the 2nd Machine Gun Company. During October he participated in The Battle of Broodseinde Ridge, Ypres, in Belgium, and was recommended for the Military Medal.
“This man was detailed as runner and guide. He carried (?) parties under very heavy shell fire & (?) very willing volunteer for anything which put him into danger. Owing to casualties he was put in charge of a gun, relieving an NCO, and showed great courage under shell fire refusing later to be relieved himself stating later that he felt quite ok. His behaviour was exceptional throughout, he was on the line from 1st to 11th October taking part in the attack and was in great (?) throughout". [awm Recommendation file for Honours and Awards.]
Note: the handwritten recommendation is difficult to decipher.
On 11.1.18 he was admitted to hospital in France suffering from Scabies, re-joining his unit after a stay of 5 days. He was appointed Lance Corporal 1st Machine Gun Battalion on 12.3.18, Temporary Corporal on 19.5.18 and Corporal on 10.8.18. In October he was admitted to hospital for a week suffering from Cellulitis in the hand.
Following the Armistice he spent some months in England, during which time he was married to Florence Catherine McJanet, at the Congregational Chapel, Rectory Place, Woolwich. (13.2.19) He embarked for return to Australia on 4.7.19.
“The Men Listed on the Roll of Honour, St John’s Presbyterian Church, Bendigo”: Larna Malone
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