A PATRIOTIC FAMILY
We next give portraits of the six soldier sons of Mr & Mrs W Cox, of Pitcher’s Hill, Wickhamford, one of whom unfortunately, has lost his life, as reported last week. Mr & Mrs Cox have three other sons, one of whom is a linesman on the Great Western Railway at Snow Hill, Birmingham, and who is regarded as indispensable and refused permission to join the Army. The other two are aged sixteen and twelve respectively, and the former is still hoping that he may be old enough to join before the war is over. The eldest of the family, and the first of the group of portraits, is Private C W Cox, of the Canadian Expeditionary Force. He has been in Canada for ten years, and is married and has four daughters. He let his farm at the outbreak of the war, joined up, and is doing his bit for the old country. Sergeant J T Cox, of the Welsh Regiment, is a married man with two children, who at the outbreak of war carried on a business as a shoemaker in Bengeworth. He was an old soldier and on the reserve, so he rejoined at once. He was wounded at the battle of Aisne, and is now at Cardiff, where he is following his old trade for the Army. Private George Frederick Cox of the Canadian Mounted Rifles had been in Canada farming for six years. He gave up his farm and came to England and is now serving in France with the Eaton motor machine gun battery. Corporal J.H. Cox, of the Worcesters, was in the army at the outbreak of war, and went to France with the original Expeditionary Force, taking part in the battle of Mons and other engagements. While rescuing a wounded companion at the battle of St. Eloi in March. 1915, he was wounded, and after being treated at various hospitals in France he was taken to hospital at Dalmeny, where he remained for four months. He has now recovered, and is expecting orders to re-join. Bombardier A Cox, of the RFA, joined the Army early in the war, after serving in France has been transferred to Salonika; he is a married man with one child. The last portrait is that of Gunner Frank Cox, of the RFA who has died of sunstroke, as reported last week. His death occurred on July 13, and had he lived he would have been eighteen on July 31. He joined the Army soon after the outbreak of war. Major H W Paxton, of the RFA, writing to Mrs Cox, on July 15, says everything possible was done for her son, who had the best medical attention. Although he did not lose his life in actual fighting he gave it for his country as truly as those who did; and he felt sure that she as his mother would feel proud of him. He was keen on his work, and had the makings of a good soldier. The whole battery has also sent expressions of sympathy to Mr & Mrs Cox for their lad was liked by all.
