FOX, Sydney
| Service Number: | 55915 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 43rd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Beaufort, Victoria, Australia , 7 August 1884 |
| Home Town: | Rosewater (Greytown), Port Adelaide Enfield, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Raglan State School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Pneumonia, Fovant Military Hospital, United Kingdom, 16 October 1918, aged 34 years |
| Cemetery: |
Fovant (St. George) Churchyard, Wiltshire - South West, England Plot 1, Row A, Grave 3. Headstone inscription reads: Beloved son of R.T. Fox of Alberton, SA Chaplain G. Prickett officiated. Undertakers were G. Hansford of Anstey, Wiltshire and the coffin was made of polished elm with brass mounts, |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lobethal WW1 Roll of Honor, Rosewater War Memorial, Woodside District of Onkaparinga Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Jun 1918: | Involvement Private, 55915, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '20' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: RMS Orontes embarkation_ship_number: '' public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 5 Jun 1918: | Embarked Private, 55915, 1st to 6th (SA) Reinforcements, RMS Orontes, Sydney | |
| 16 Oct 1918: | Involvement Private, 55915, 43rd Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 55915 awm_unit: 43rd Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Private awm_died_date: 1918-10-16 |
Help us honour Sydney Fox's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Son of Reuben Thomas and Christina Fox nee Abercombie of Newcastle Street, Alberton, SA. Brother of Georgina Frances Fox of Rosewater, SA
Medal: British War Medal
Biography contributed by Cathy Sedgwick
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland”
Died on this date – 16th October…… Reuben Sydney Fox was born at Raglan, near Beaufort, Victoria in on 7th August, 1884 (as stated on Attestation Papers, however his birth was registered in 1885) to parents Reuben Thomas and Christina Fox (nee Abercrombie).
Entrance & Description Book – Broken Hill Gaol:
29 August, 1911 – Sydney Fox of B. Hill, born Victoria, C. of E, Miner, committed for Assaulting Constable, age 27 (born 7.8.84) 5ft 7, brown hair, brown eyes. Fined £6.3 paid 29 August, 1911
A “Sydney Fox”, Miner, aged 28, born Victoria, Church of England was convicted of Stealing on 15th August, 1912 & sentenced to 6 months. He was 5 feet 7 inches with brown hair & brown eyes.
Sydney Fox, alias John Ball, was charged with having used indecent language and disturbed the peace of the Thatched House Tavern. A fine of £1 and 15/ costs was imposed; in default, 7 days’ imprisonment. (4th February, 1913) He was also charged with having no lawful means of support, and being an idle and disorderly person. He was sentenced to two months’ imprisonment with hard labour. For restricting Mounted-Constable Virgo in the execution of his duty, he was awarded three months’ imprisonment.
In September, 1913 Sydney Fox was fined 5s for drunkenness in South Australia.
Sydney Fox was charged in October, 1917 on the information of the police having insufficient means of support. Defendant pleaded not guilty. His mother & work colleague were character witnesses. The case was dismissed.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 25th April, 1918 as a 33 year old, single, Labourer from Alberton, South Australia.
Private Sydney Fox, Service number 55915, entrained to Sydney, NSW on 31st May, 1918. He embarked from Sydney on RMS Orontes on 5th June, 1918. Private Sydney Fox was written up for an Offence while on RMS Orontes on 23rd June, 1918 - 1. Wilfully damaging Govt. property – smashing front out of No. 2 Cell & 2. Drunkenness. Private Sydney Fox was deprived of 28 days’ pay on 25th June, 1918. Private Sydney Fox was written up for an Offence while on RMS Orontes – A.W.L. (Absent without leave) from midnight on 25th July, 1918 till midnight on 29th July, 1918. He forfeited a total of 25 days’ pay. Private Fox disembarked at Liverpool, England on 11th August, 1918.
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.
On 12th August, 1918 Private Fox was marched in to 9th Training Battalion at Fovant, Wiltshire. He was allotted to Reinforcements of 43rd Battalion on 12th August, 1918 whilst at 9th Training Battalion.
He was sent sick to Bulford Hospital on 13th August, 1918. He was admitted to 1st Australian Dermatological Hospital at Bulford, Wiltshire on 13th August, 1918 with V.D. & was discharged to Convalescent Training Depot at Parkhouse, Wiltshire on 15th August, 1918.
Private Fox was written up for an Offence at Parkhouse Shipton - A.W.L. (Absent without leave) until found by M.P. on Shipton & Cholderton Road about 2.20 pm. on 9th September, 1918 without a pass & neglecting to obey A.I.F. Depot orders of 22.6.17 in that he was found on Shipton & Cholderton Rd on 9th September, 1918 not in possession of Pay Book or Identity disc. He was awarded a forfeiture of 1 days’ pay.
On 1st October, 1918 Private Fox was marched in to 9th Training Battalion from Parkhouse Hospital.
He was sent sick to Hurdcott Hospital on 7th October, 1918 & admitted with Bronchitis then transferred & admitted to Military Hospital, Fovant on 9th October, 1918 seriously ill with Pneumonia.
Private Sydney Fox died at 3.20 am on 16th October, 1918 at Fovant Military Hospital, Wiltshire, England from Pneumonia.
He was buried in St George’s Churchyard, Fovant, Wiltshire, England where 43 other WW1 Australian War Graves are located.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/a---g.html
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