TOPIC:

David

I am posting the Cox biography here, but if it detracts from this thread, please move or delete it.

Regards
Brett

WILLIAM JOSEPH COX

30/8/1876
William Joseph Cox was born in New Brunswick, Canada.

1876 to 1899
The 1881 Census recorded that the Cox family was resident in Maugerville, Sunbury County, New Brunswick. Phillip Cox, who was a farmer, and his second wife, Sarah, were the parents of five children, including William, who also had three stepbrothers, the offspring of his father’s first marriage. By the time of the 1891 Census, two of William’s stepbrothers had left the Maugerville home, but another child had been born to Phillip and Sarah. All members of the Cox family were Catholics.

Johnson & O’Leary (1989: 89) recorded the following information about William: “William J. formerly of Maugerville, N.B. attended school in Newcastle. After completing studies in civil engineering, he worked two years on the Crow’s Neck Pass Railway. He returned to N.B. in February 1899. In May, he left for England to find passage to Cape Colony.”

30/4/1898 to 31/8/1898
In his South African military papers (vide infra), Cox recorded that he had served as a Lieutenant in the US Army in the Cuba-Puerto Rico campaigns of the Spanish-American War. This is at odds with the report that, prior to February 1899, he had been working on a railway line in the Rocky Mountains. Perhaps he did both, but this apparent contradiction has yet to be resolved.

1899 – 1901
After arriving in South Africa in mid-1899, Cox moved from the Cape Colony to the Transvaal. According to Johnson & O’Leary (1989: 89), when the Anglo-Boer War broke out in October 1899, “he was working as a railway contractor in the Transvaal where he was robbed by the Boers.” He then returned to Cape Town, where he enlisted in the South African Light Horse. He served in this unit for a year.

The SALH was raised in Cape Town in November 1899 and was under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel J H G Byng of the 10th Hussars. Three squadrons were soon shipped to Natal and another three followed later. The regiment formed part of the Natal Field Force under General Sir Redvers Buller. It was one of the regiments that made up the Mounted Brigade, which took part in the operations to relieve the Siege of Ladysmith. The regiment was present at the Battle of Colenso (15/12/1899), and in actions that preceded the Battle of Spioenkop (11-24/1/1900). After returning to the Colenso front, the SALH took part in the seizing of the Boer-held high ground south of the Tugela River, which opened the way for the Battle of Tugela Heights (21-27/2/1900). The 118 day Siege of Ladysmith was lifted on 28/2/1900.

The SALH then took an active part in the remainder of General Buller’s campaign in northern Natal and the eastern Transvaal, which culminated with the last set-piece battle of the war at Bergendal on 27/8/1900.

In the second (guerrilla) phase of the war, the SALH was active in the Transvaal, Orange Free State and Cape Colony and, with its sister irregular regiment, Thorneycroft’s Mounted Infantry, it often clashed with Boer Commandos.

After the war, Cox was awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with six clasps (Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Laing’s Nek, Belfast). The medal is named to 1000 Serjt. W. J. Cox. S. A. Lt. Horse.

Cox was twice ‘Mentioned in Despatches’ by General Buller:
30/3/1900 – Corporal W Cox. “For gallant or meritorious service.”
13/9/1900 – Sergeant W J Cox. “Performed acts of bravery or dangerous duties.” (Maloyd 2001: 303)

The first ‘mention’ refers to an incident on 11/1/1900 when six volunteers from the SALH swam across the Tugela River at Potgieter’s Drift, while under fire by the Boers, and retrieved a ferry that was moored on the north bank. This allowed the first crossing of the Tugela River by units of Buller’s army, although it was to end in the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Spioenkop on 24/2/1900. Burleigh (1900) records that Corporal Cox was one of the volunteers. (Also, see other posts in this thread.)

Cox was discharged from the SALH late in 1900, well before the end of the war, which continued for another 18 months. He returned to Canada, “Where a public reception was held for him on February 6, 1901 after his return to New Brunswick.” His rank was given as ‘Sergeant-Major’, which is at odds with the rank of ‘Sergeant’ given in SALH records. At that time, his half-brother, Dr Phillip Cox of Chatham, New Brunswick, was recorded as his next-of-kin. (Johnson & O’Leary [1989: 89]).

1901 – 1914
No details are known of Cox’s activities during this period, but he evidently returned to South Africa. His military records reveal that he had settled in Cradock, Cape Province, where he lived with his wife, Florence, and four children. His profession was given as “Civil Engineer”.

1914 – 1919
Cox’s activities during World War I are recorded in his military service papers and are as follows:

13/10/1914 – 1/11/1914
Lieutenant in the Fraserburg Commando. His 1914/15 Star is named accordingly.

2/11/1914 – 30/4/1915
Lieutenant in Naude’s Scouts during the German South West Africa campaign.
This unit was initially engaged in the advance into GSWA from Upington along the north bank of the Orange River. L’Ange (1991: 152) records that, “One of the German positions [at Schuit Drift] was attacked by Major Naude, leader of the Scouts, and one of his men, even though both were wounded.”

Cox was ‘Mentioned in Despatches’, Southern Force, GSWA campaign.
No other details are known.

1/5/1915 – 31/7/1915
Cox was appointed as a Temporary Lieutenant in the South African Engineers Corps on 1/5/1915. He was later promoted to Captain and it is this rank that is given on his SAEC record card. He was discharged through “Reduction of establishment” on 11/7/1915, although on another form his SAEC service is given as 1/5/1915 to 22/12/1915.
Another inconsistency on his SAEC record card concerns the entry that on 25/3/1915 he embarked in Cape Town on the SS Clan MacMillan for service with the Central Force in GSWA, whereas on this date he was still enlisted in Naude’s Scouts in the Southern Force. The most likely explanation is that the date ‘25/3/1915’ is incorrect and perhaps should be ‘25/5/1915’.

20/12/1915 – 9/4/1916
Served as a Lieutenant in the 2nd South African Horse.

The 2nd S A Horse was part of the 1st Mounted Brigade, which was commanded by Brigadier-General J L van Deventer, under whom Cox and Naude’s Scouts had served in GSWA campaign. The 1st Mounted Brigade embarked for East Africa on 31/12/1915 and it disembarked in British East Africa (now Kenya) on 9/1/1916. By then, German forces had intruded into BEA from neighbouring German East Africa (later Tanganyika, now Tanzania).

On 5/3/1916, a few days before the 2nd S A Horse went south from Nairobi to confront the Germans, Cox was “Dismissed from His Majesty’s Service” by a Court Martial. The nature of Cox’s offence is unknown, although it was clearly very serious.

He left Nairobi on 31/3/1916 and on 2/4/1916 he embarked at Kilindini on the St Egbert. He arrived in Durban on 9/4/1916.

It is presumed that he then returned to his home in Cradock.

9/8/1916
Cox enlisted as a Private in the 1st Special Engineer Section, SAEC, in Pretoria. This unit was involved in the building of roads, a function that would have suited Cox, the Civil Engineer.

In his attestation form, he recorded all his previous military service, except that in the 2nd S A Horse.

He was posted to Potchefstroom on 11/8/1916. On 7/9/1916 he was promoted to Acting Corporal and on 26/9/1916 he embarked in Durban bound for Beira in Portuguese East Africa (now Mozambique). From there he moved to Nyasaland (now Malawi), where he remained for the next 30 months.

20/6/1917
Cox was transferred to the Intelligence Department, and on 25/6/1917 he was posted to Zomba, Nyasaland. Nothing is known of his function in this Department, but presumably it did not involve the building of roads.

1/6/1918
Promoted to Temporary 2nd Lieutenant.

1/12/1918
Promoted to Lieutenant, the rank he had held at the start of the war.

5/4/1919
Nearly five months after the war had ended, and on an order from Lieutenant-Colonel S S Cape, Cox left Limbe, Nyasaland, for Pretoria and release from service.

17/4/1919 – 24/7/1919
After Cox’s arrival in Pretoria on 17/4/1919, he had several admissions to hospital, both No. 4 General Hospital, Robert’s Heights, and the Wanderer’s Hospital in Johannesburg, the latter for “Specialized Treatment”. The final three months of Cox’s military career were dominated by issues relating to his health, which were recorded by summary statements in a Medical Report on an Invalid dated 23/7/1919:

History of the Disability
“Patient states that he was on service in the tropics [for] about 32 months. He had in all 25-30 attacks of Malaria & was never in hospital for it. Last touch of fever June 24 1919. In Dec. 1918 he had Influenza very badly & again in Feb. 1919 he had it badly & nearly died. After his first attack his nose began to trouble him although he had always been [?prone] to Catarrh. Arrived in Union about 25.4.19 and was admitted with Malaria and Rheumatism 26.4.19. On 6.7.19 was sent to Dr. McNab. He was Xrayed & Dr. Hurst J. operated on him. Readmitted [to] No. 4. [General Hospital on] 25.6.19. On 27.6.19 returned to [Wanderer’s Hospital] Johannesburg & was re-admitted to No. 4. [on] 7.7.19. This patient behaved extremely badly. He was absent without leave. He went privately to Dr Howat & says he had a wasserman done at his own expense & that it was a negative. He wrote a letter stating that he did not require further treatment.”

The significance of the “wasserman” becomes evident in the next part of the record.

Present Condition
“Patient feels well, & looks healthy. His nose is still sore as he had an ope[ration] performed on it. 13.6.19. at Johburg (sic). He had several attacks of Malaria while [in] No. 4. Gen. Hospital. While in hospital he developed a rash all over his body. Well marked on hands & inside mouth. A wasserman was taken and showed strongly positive. He denied all history of syphilis. Had 2.I.V. Kharsiwan and about 8.I.V. galyl. Heart healthy. Operation performed was straightening of nasal septum and removal of polyps. At t[he] time he was suffering from Sinisitis (sic) & will require further treatment or operation. This patient has retarded his recovery by his conduct. Further treatment [has] been refused. (sgd) J. Howat”

The Wassermann test was clearly interpreted as indicative of syphilis, hence the intravenous therapy applied, which was standard at that time. In fact, the test is not specific to this disease and there are positive reactions to others, including malaria. Cox was clearly upset by the syphilis diagnosis and reacted by paying for another test, refusing further treatment and then returning to his home in Cradock without permission. He was recorded as “absent without leave” between 26/6/1919 and 7/7/1919.

These events brought an inglorious end to a military career that evidently had more highs than lows. Cox relinquished his temporary commission and was released from service by a decision of the Medical Board dated 24/7/1919, and also a Disciplinary Camp order of the same date.

Cox’s parting of ways with the army was not permanent because there is a note in his records that states: “Resumes normal status as Temp. Capt. (G.O. 3235 no. 268. 1/11/19).” This indicates that he was placed on the Reserve of Officers roll of the Active Citizen Force. It is not known how long this arrangement lasted.

Another uncertainty concerns the apparent failure to award Cox the War and Victory Medals to which he was clearly entitled. His 1914/15 Star was despatched to him on 26/7/1921, but there are no mentions of the War and Victory Medals in his records. Perhaps these medals were withheld because of Cox’s disciplinary lapses in 1916 and 1919.

No record has yet been found of Cox’s life after 1919.

REFERENCES
Documents kept in the archives of New Brunswick, Canada (via William Vinh-doyle), and the South African National Defence Force in Pretoria, South Africa (via Audrey Portman).
Burleigh, B. 1900. The Natal Campaign. London: Chapman & Hall.
Johnson, D F & O’Leary, B E. 1989. New Brunswick Men at War: The South African War (1899-1902). Saint John, N B: Loyalist City Coins.
L’Ange, G. 1991. Urgent Imperial Service. Rivonia: Ashanti Publishing (Pty) Ltd.
Maloyd, A. 2001. South African War 1899 – 1902 Mentioned in Despatches. Privately published.

Brett Hendey, 16/4/2012 and revised 28/1/2014.

That's excellent. Many thanks Brett.

Good Morning Everyone.....

I am sure that you have all seen this one..... It has been posted several times with no change in price......



Mike

Quite a character - a wonderful story Brett

Regards

Rory

Mike,

I have to admire the seller's persistence and his declaration that the medal has "no reserve just starting price"

Hi all

What great information on these people. When I collected some years ago, I owned the medal to Tpr Godden and was really pleased that I was to own it again when it came up at auction last year.

Here is one that I have been looking into and recently found that he was 1645 Saddler sergeant Arthur Baker with SALH and died of wounds at Elandslaagte on 21 April 1900 and he is buried in the cemetery there. His name appears on several monuments; Cape Town St.Georges Cathedral/All Saints Ladysmith/Saxonwold Jo'Burg.

I am still trying to find out more!