Charles William Cox

On the first day of February 1964, the Mill Hill Branch of the Die-Hards Club lost one of its oldest and most regular members. He was "Driver" Cox, that cheerful old veteran of the Boer War who had a record of attendance at Regimental functions second to none.

Charles William Cox was born on 2nd of September 1884 at St. Pancras and grew up to be the typical chirpy little cockney of his time. He was only 5ft 5in tall and most of that was heart, as was proved by his courage in the ring and his generosity in his friendship.

He originally enlisted in the newly re-numbered 5th Battalion (Militia) of the Regiment, The Royal Elthorne Militia, on the 6th May 1900, his number being 2344, and with this Unit took part in the Boer War. This was the last time Militia Battalions went into war as independent units as in 1908, they were changed to Special Reserve and supplied individuals to replace casualties in Regular and Service Battalions. During this campaign, his main duties ware as one the garrison of the blockhouses in the Mafeking line of Defence.

Returning home at the end of 1902, he was posted to Hounslow and was present when the Regimental facings were restored from white to the original yellow, the rand and file changing the colour by use of a dye on the collar and "jam-pot" cuffs, still then the official pattern.

On the 6th May 1903, he transferred to the Regulars and was posted to the 4th Battalion, then serving in Dublin under the command of Lieut. Col. Simpson. When the draft marched in as recruits to join the battalion, it was the cause of comment-and recording in the Battalion Diary-that quite a number of them were wearing campaign medals. These men were recruits from the Militia. In July of that year he was one of the soldiers who lined the street at Fitzwilliam Place on the occasion of the visit of the newly crowned sovereign. King Edward VII. The national papers of the day all remarked on the excellent marching and appearance of the 4th Battalion. He was at this time in the company commanded by Major B.E. (Glass eye) Ward. The year following-1904-Lt. Col. Lampriere succeeded to the command and this Commanding Officer had a very favourable opinion of the athletic Pte. Cox.

From 1905 to 1906 he was a member of the Depot Staff to train recruits and when the Depot moved from Hounslow to Mill Hill, he marched up Bittacy Hill with the first men of the Regiment to occupy the only Regimental Depot the Regiment has had to itself.

The following year 1907 he was posted to the 3rd Battalion and was with them in Hong Kong when he was one of the Guard of Honour to the Duke of Connaught on 6th February 1907. It was at this time an International Force was sent on "Legation Guard" to Peking and Tientsin in N. China and he was a member of the Wing at Peking at Peking for most of this time and for a short while at Tientsin. Everlasting memories of this time were his visits to the Great Wall of China and to the Ming Tombs, also as a soldier, he told me of the issue of the Short Lee Enfield Magazine rifle to replace the Long Lee Enfield and the acrimonious discussions as the accuracy of the two fire-arms.

Back in Hong Kong in January 1908, he continued to serve with the 33rd Battalion in Singapore and India and was present at the Delhi Durbar in December 1911, when King George V and Queen Mary were enthroned as King Emperor and Queen Empress of India, the only British Sovereigns to undergo this ceremony in the land of India. Transferred to the First Class Army Reserve in 1913, he was mobilised in August, 1914, and joined the 1st Battalion at Woolwich and, with them, was with the first of the British Army to land in France in 1914. He was present at the Battle of Mons and all the battles subsequent to this action fought by the 1st Battalion, until he became a casualty. In January 1915, he was blown up and buried by a German shell and after being dug out, was repatriated to England to recover from his wounds. He was discharged on 5@' May 1916, and promptly enlisted again on 30th June 1916, first of all in the Labour Corps, and as he was graded higher medically, served with the Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment and eventually with the Cameron Highlanders, his Regimental number in this unit being 50328. He was very reticent about his se5rvice away from his beloved Die-Hards, as if it were a disgrace not to be with them in battle, but however reticent he may have been, his country and new unit recognised his worth as the award of the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field at Ypres testifies. All I could ever gather from him was some blokes wanted something, so I took it up to 'em'. That explanation is all very well but when a man is travelling in one direction with "something a bloke wants" and a lot of ironmongery is travelling rapidly in the opposite direction it presents an entirely different picture. At this period he was serving with 1097 Company of the Army Service Corps, his Military Medal being engraved with this unit's title and also showing his rank as serjeant and his number 64815.

His injuries sustained in the early months of the war caused him to be downgraded once the medical authorities know of them. It then became his next task to get into an active service unit where his medical history was unknown and be marked Al again.

In June 1919 he returned to the Depot at Mill Hill, dressed in the kilt and uniform of the Cameron Highlanders. He walked into the crowded Sergeants' Mess where all conversation ceased as the members saw the short sergeant in the Highland uniform. After a pause, one of his old comrades recognised him and shouted his nick-name "Driver". Then a roar simultaneously from the majority of members "orfwiv it". He then had to turn and run as the mess chased him up the road to get the kilt off. To members of the Sergeants' Mess of the years following the First World War, no further explanation of the joyful parties held on such occasions are necessary.

Posted to the 4th Battalion at Reedhall Camp, Colchester, then under the command of Lt. Col. H.W.E. Finch, he soon became a valued member and his worth recognised by both RSM Andrews and RQMS Pharaoh. From Colchester the battalion moved to Gibraltar and it was here that the Colonel-in-Chief of the Regiment, HRH The Prince of Wales spoke to him recalling their meeting at an earlier date. This was at Kemmel when the Prince was visiting the trenches and gave Sjt Cox a cigarette. The Royal memory as not at fault.

Of this time, a letter I received after his decease, remarks, "As you have heard many times, he was my Platoon Sgt when I was quite a young corporal in Gibraltar. Although a small man he was a strict disciplinarian, and many time did I tremble under the lash of his tongue - nevertheless, off parade he was kind, thoughtful and never too busy to help anyone who asked. Mrs Cox also was a great help to all who were under her husband's command. I know, because my pal the late Freddy Draper and myself benefitted from her kindness, help and advice while serving in Gibraltar - yes, I can more or less write a book about him - but I know you could as well. Anyhow he is with us no more but I feel proud to have been one of his platoon Section Corporals". That Section Corporal learnt his lesson well under the tuition of his Platoon Sergeant as he eventually became the RSM of the 1st Battalion and is now Major Percy Newman who needs no introduction whatever to readers of this letter. Major Newman is also right in another respect. I could easily write a book on the comrade and it is difficult not to.

From Gibraltar he moved with his battalion to Egypt where the 2nd Battalion were already serving and in 1922 he returned to England when the 3 and 4th Battalions were disbanded under the Geddes Axe. The day he disembarked was one date he never forgot. It was on this date that his wife, who had preceded him home, gave birth to twin sons.

On the disbandment of the 4th Battalion, he took his discharge and retired to pension on 3rd August 1922.

He took up employment with Hendon Borough Council and became a valued member of their staff who from the very beginning was given jobs of responsibility. At the same time he was a most loyal supporter of the Regimental Association and his small, alert figure was to be seen on ALL parades and socials.

In 1940, when the Local Defence Volunteers were formed he immediately enrolled and rapidly knocked his men into shape. So much so that later his Platoon, "A" Platoon, No 10 Company of 23 Middlesex Battalion of the Home Guard cam second for the best Platoon in England. He continued to serve with the Home Guard until 1945 and for his services was awarded the Defence Medal 1939 - 1945.

After his retirement, he spent the hours of daylight in his garden and regularly each year took one or more prizes in the Flower Shows. Although born a Londoner, he was a true son of the soil. Flowers and plants would grow wherever he delved and his blooms were the admiration of many and the envy of others. He would walk into the Old Comrades hut at times, practically obscured behind an enormous bunch of flowers that he would present to ladies present. If he visited the house, he took the first opportunity to walk around the garden, picking off dead leaves or pistils to encourage healthy growth of the budding flowers. Or he would go down on his knees to peer at small shoots and give valuable adv ice as to their care. The soil itself never escaped his eye or attention and he would scoop up a handful, let some of it run through his fingers and then smell the remainder, remarking, "Ah, yes that's OK, it's nice and sweet" or "No, you'll have to do something about this, it's sour". His advice was always worth following. I believe he had "green fingers" to such a degree a broom handle would bud if he used it more than twice a day!

When the Mill Hill Branch of the Die-Hards Club was formed after the end of the war in 1945, he became one of its first members and was a loyal and regular member from then on. He was one of the stalwarts who kept the club going through the grim period when only four or five members, sometimes less, would foregather. The only time I know of him to miss attending was when he was ill and forbidden to leave his house or when he was in hospital. He would be one of the first members to arrive and was quite often the very first. A cheerful hail would greet any newcomer or old friend as he entered the Crawford Hut or Canteen and the chap's favourite drink would be thrust in his hand in the shortest space of time. Between 9 and 9:30p.m., he would finish his drink and bed the company adieu and trot off home. He was very regular in his habits as he was in his punctuality.

All who had served with him remembered him with affection and it was on Regimental re- unions that his popularity could be judged. He made all feel young and was always the centre of a happy group of old soldiers, their ranks varying from Commanding Officers to private soldiers he had had under his command in years gone by. One incident is worth recalling. When the 3rd Battalion were in Singapore (1909) under the command of Colonel Glover, the Bn who were on a route march halted at Normanton Ranges. The O.C. Coy told Pte Cox to take one other soldier with him and guide the Colonel through the jungle as he wished to reach the Orderly Room as quickly as possible/ Leading the way over a plank bridge across the stream where on plank went to the middle and another joined it at a sharp angle to the right, "Bung" Brewer (the other soldier) and Pte Cox jogged straight along the planks and at the end turned to see how the Colonel was doing and at the same time blocking a clear run . Col Glover roared "Get on you young bounders, you're trying to drown me" Years later, at a parade on the Horse Guards Parade. Colonel Glover walked straight over to the old veteran, and shaking his hand said "It's Cox isn't it? You're the bounder who tried to drown me". When the parade was ready to march off, the old Colonel was offered a lift to the "Duke of Yorks" but the company of his soldiers of years ago had not only filled him with pride, but youth also, and he replied, "I'll march the damn legs off 'em don't forget the 3rd Battalion beat all nations at the YMCA International Sports". And march he did with "'young Cox" and his other old soldiers. He afterwards told our veteran that it was seeing him again that made him feel in such fine fettle.

Just over a year ago he was knocked down by a motor cyclist and as well as extensive bruising suffered from a badly gashed face and broken ribs. It says much for his toughness that his stay in hospital was of only short duration. He had not been active of late and at the time of his decease was waiting to go into hospital to undergo an operation for hernia. This did not prevent him from enjoying the company of his fellow-men as he was about as much as it was possible for him to be.

Six days before his death he had made the effort to come to Mill Hill to apologise for not being able to attend the previous day's meeting of the Die-Hards Club. For this journey he was able to get transport in his son-in-law's card.

On Saturday, 1st February, he decided to go to his local pub for a glass of Guinness and had just reached the corner of the street when he left this life and joined his Maker. One can't imagine a quicker and less painless end and all who know him must feel pleased that he did not suffer, but left this life whilst, enjoying God's sunshine and anticipation of a glass of his favourite beverage. His end was so quick and painless that he did not fall down and die, but fell down because he was dead.

He was cremated at Hendon Park Crematorium on Thursday, 6th February 1964, the service being attended by a great gathering of relations and friends who filled the chapel. As well as Mrs Cox and her daughters, two of his sons who served in the Regiment, Mr A. Cox who was with the 2nd Battalion and Mr L. Cox who was with the 1s1 Battalion during the Battle of Hong Kong, there were representatives from the Old Contemptibles Association and members of the Old Hendon ex- Services Club. Representing the Colonel and all ranks of the Regiment was Major Heywood, Major Smith represented the Die-Hards Club. Mill Hill Branch and other old friends who know him in the Regiment were Messrs W. Bratby, H. Coxhill, J. Davis, R. Ferguson, E. Green, M.M. T. Harrison, W. Hayes, J. Holmes, W. Hollingsworth, D. M Holdford, E. Rudd, C. Trout, Mesdames Smith, Honeybun, Harrison and Kerswill.