John Henry Cox's War

Introduction

A summary of the record of John Henry Cox (1893-1975) in the Army during the Great War appears as one section in the article ‘Wickhamford Goes To War’. A brief history of the Cox Family of Pitchers Hill also appears on this website. The piece here is mainly a photographic record of his life in the Army before and during the War and most of the pictures and postcards shown are from a collection of material kindly supplied by Christopher John Cox. They are an interesting insight into the life of one soldier, ‘Harry’ Cox, in that dreadful conflict.

Army Life before the Great War

John%20Henry%20Cox.jpeg — John Henry Cox, seated, soon after he joined the Worcestershire Regt.

John Henry Cox enlisted for 7 years in the Army in March or April 1912, and soon joined the band of the 3^rd Battalion, the Worcestershire Regiment (No 12983), where he played the flute and drum. He kept the flute for many years after the War.

The Great War

John Henry Cox went to France soon after War was declared, and became a stretch-bearer, the designated role of Regimental bandsmen in time of hostilities. He was soon involved in the fighting retreat at Mons.

The Band of the 3rd Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment visited Tiverton, Devon, probably in 1913 and performed at the stateley home of the Heathcoat-Amory family at Knightshayes Court. John Henry Cox is seated on the left in the front row: he met his future wife in Devon at this time.

Postcard sent by John Henry Cox, postmarked 13th August 1914, to his betrothed. It said, in part- Dear Beatrice, just a line to let you know we are at Southampton but I do not know where we go from here but cheer up Dear and don't worry as we shall soon be back . . .

John Henry Cox landed at Rouen 16 August 1914 and was wounded at St Eloi on 28^th March 1915, whilst rescuing a wounded companion, presumably in his role as a stretcher-bearer. He was probably wounded by a sniper of the Bavarian Division. After spending some time in hospitals in France he was transported home on the hospital ship ‘Nevasa’ and spent about four months in hospital at Dalmeny, but eventually recovered from his wound.

Hospital%20Ship.jpeg — A postcard of the Hospital Ship in which John Henry Cox arrived back in Southampton on April 18th 1915.

Company%20of%20Stretcher%20Beares.jpeg — Stretcher-bearers of the Worcestershire Regiment, who were also the bandsmen (picture from the Worcestershire Regiment Museum). A number of these men were killed in the fighting on June 16th 1915.

Men%20in%20Trenches.jpeg — Men of the Worcestershire Regt in what seems to be a recently dug trench. This photograph was in the Cox collection, so these were probably some of John Henry Cox's chums. The man in the centre seems to be also in the picture (left) on the extreme right.

Edgington%20Pond.jpeg — John Henry Cox requested hospitalisation in Devon but he was sent to Dalmeny House, near Edinburgh for 4 months. He did, however, approve of the house, which was a stately home. This postcard was sent from there to his fiancee on April 21st 1915.

JHC%20marriage.jpeg — In the Spring of 1916 John Henry Cox married Beatrice K. Hooper in Tiverton, Devon. It is thought this picture was taken in Wickhamford soon after their wedding. John Henry was a corporal by this time.

Six of the sons of William and Alice Cox enlisted in the Army, including two who had emigrated to Canada before the War. On August 12^th 1916 the Evesham Journal produced an article – A Patriotic Family - about the Cox brothers, including the youngest, Frank, who had died in Greece.

Cox%20Brothers.jpeg — Photographs of the six Cox brothers as they appeared in the Evesham Journal of August 12th 1916, and the accompanying article.

Evesham%20Journal%20report.jpeg Evesham%20Journal%20write-up.jpeg

After recovering from his wound, John Henry Cox was transferred to the 6th Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment based in Plymouth. This was a reserve/training battalion. From here around July or August 1916 he was sent to the Royal Berkshire Regiment, 8^th Battalion (No 36728), as part of a replacement draft as they had suffered heavy losses. Various postcards show that he returned to France with this Battalion during the latter part of the War. The Battalion fought at Ypres in 1917, but there are no records of John Henry Cox’s time in this Regiment other than the award of the Meritorious Service Medal.

Royal%20Berkshire%20regt..jpeg — Royal Berkshire Regiment, 8th Battalion band. John Henry Cox is in the centre row behind the drums, next to the officer.

John Henry or ‘Harry’ as he was known in the family, was a Sergeant by the War’s end. He received a full set of Service medals including the 1914 star and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for gallantry, but not in the face of the enemy. This was gazetted in the Peace Gazette along with many others on 3^rd June 1919. Unfortunately, no records survive to show what he did to earn this medal.

Meritorius%20Service%20Medal.jpeg — The Meritoius Service Medal awarded John Henry Cox.

JHC%20War%20Medals.jpeg — John Henry Cox's War Medals - the 1914 Star, Meritorious Service Medal, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Tom Locke, November 2012