Charles Frederick Cox CB CMG DSO (1863 - 1944)

Ancestors Descendants

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Formative years 1.2 Fighting in the Boer War 1.3 Fighting in The Great War 1.4 Charlie Cox's Home-coming 1.5 Fighting for the people 1.6 Legacy 2 Sources

Biography

Major General Charles Cox CB CMG DSO VD was a senior Australian Army officer and politician. He retired from the military in 1923 as an honorary Major General. He held a seat in the Senate for New South Wales from 1920 to 1938 where he took a large interest in defence policy, national railway network and the construction of the new national capital in Canberra. ^[1]

Formative years

Born Charles Frederick Cox on 2nd May 1863 in Pennant Hills, New South Wales (Australia), he was the eldest of ten children of Frederick Charles Cox, butcher and later orchardist of Pennant Hills, and his wife, Eliza Anderson. ^[2] Upon completion of his formal education, Charles entered the colonial railways in 1881 as a clerk in the traffic audit branch. He worked his way up to inspector in the branch. He also developed a keen interest in the volunteer militia.

He married Minnie Gibbons, daughter of William and Wilhelmina Gibbons, on 7th March 1894 in All Saints Church of England (Anglican Church), North Parramatta. ^[3] Charles and Minnie had one daughter:

• Lenore, 1898 Parramatta (Birth Index #33591/1898)-1987 Croydon (Death Index #5621/1987); married Harold Reddaway on 6th October 1920 in St Phillip's Church of England, Sydney (Marriage Index #15062/1920).

Fighting in the Boer War

On the outbreak of war in South Africa in October 1899, Charles and most of his men who were in England at their own expense training with regular cavalry volunteered for active service and their offer was approved by the New South Wales government. They were the first colonial volunteers to land at Cape Town. He took part in almost every major action including the relief of Kimberley, the battles of Paardeberg and Diamond Hill and in operations in the Eastern Transvaal. Back in Australia in 1900 at the end of the New South Wales Lancers' tour of duty, Charles was appointed to command the newly-raised 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles and was back in South Africa with this regiment in April 1901. Such was the reputation Charles Cox and his mounted rifles built, it foreshadowed the great light horse regiments of 1914-18. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) while still a Major, an uncommon decoration for so junior an officer, and was mentioned in despatches. In two years in the field he had won a reputation as a spirited leader and had earned the affectionate nickname of 'Fighting Charlie'.

Fighting in The Great War

On the outbreak of the First World War, Fighting Charlie resigned his position of account inspector with the railways and, in the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, raised the 6th Australian Light Horse Regiment, Australian Imperial Force. They fought dismounted at Gallipoli in the 2nd Light Horse Brigade. Charles was wounded on 21st May and did not resume duty until 1st July.^[4]

From late September to early November 1915 he was temporary commander of the brigade then, as an honorary Brigadier General, succeeded Brigadier General Harry Chauvel in command of the 1st Light Horse Brigade which he led throughout the Sinai-Palestine campaign until the end of the war. On 14th July 1918, Fighting Charlie revealed to his critics his instinctive grasp of a battle situation when he launched his 1st Light Horse Regiment in a counter-attack against a strong German and Turkish force which had penetrated far into his position. His timing was exact; the enemy, caught between the 1st Light Horse and the fire from his machine gun posts, surrendered in hundreds.

Charlie Cox's Home-coming

The following article appeared under the above title in The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW: 1888 - 1950) Wednesday 7th May 1919:

"There was a great demonstration at Carlingford railway station when Brigadier-General C. F. Cox returned to his father's home after his four years hard pan military experiences during the late great war. A couple of hundred of the residents of Carlingford, Pennant Hills and Dundas had got wind that he would be up by train that day and they turned out — men, women and children; grey-haired veterans who had known him as a boy; known him when he joined up first with the Parramatta troop of Lancers, and even before that and young lads , and lassies, who had indeed heard often in local gossip of "Fighting Charlie", but to whom he was still only a name. When his tall, lithe figure was seen at the car entrance, as the train drew up there at the station, a great deal of enthusiasm manifested itself, Sunday, and all as it was. The returning soldier, who had enlisted from that district as a trooper, and who was now coming home as a General of the British forces, with the honors gained in two campaigns thick upon him was officially welcomed home by Mayor Taylor of Dundas, and (In the absence of the Shire President, Mr. A. Whitling) by Councillor Waterworth, of Baulkham Hills Council. General Cox then received the heartiest of welcomes, felicitations and congratulations from his many friends."

Fighting for the people

Fighting Charlie was elected to the Senate in 1919 and took up his seat in 1920, representing New South Wales. Although he never attained ministerial office, he found life as a senator more congenial than that in the railways. Neither did he speak often in debate, especially in his later years, but he travelled widely in New South Wales, becoming one of the best-known politicians of that State. Much of his work and achievements were made in speaking with the relevant ministers on behalf of his constituents. His speeches reflect a sturdy nationalism balanced by firm support for the British connexion. Charles fought hardest in establishing defence policy, developing the national railway system, and in the construction of the new national capital in Canberra.

He was appointed to command the 4th Light Horse Brigade in 1920, and then the 1st Cavalry Division in 1921. In 1923 he was transferred to the retired list with the rank of honorary Major General.

Legacy

Leaving a great legacy of strong work ethics, sacrifice, dedication and loyalty, Charles Cox passed away on 20th November 1944 at home at Croydon, New South Wales. He was 81 years of age and survived by his wife of 50 years and their daughter.^[5] He was buried in the Anglican section of Carlingford Cemetery with full military honours.

Sources

• John Longstaff - Art Tree (Portraits)

• Hill, A J. Cox, Charles Frederick (1863–1944). Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University,
  published first in hardcopy 1981, accessed online 4 June 2018.
• WikiTree profile Cox-2589 created through the import of Anderson family tree (1).ged on Oct 1, 2011 by Mike Anderson. See the Changes page for the details of edits by Mike and others.
• National Library of Australia, Trove, Online Newspapers, Articles from various papers available online.

1. ↑ Wikipedia: Charles_Frederick_Cox
2. ↑ New South Wales Birth Index #11610/1863
3. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #5865/1894
4. ↑ The Cumberland Argus and Fruitgrowers Advocate (Parramatta, NSW : 1888 - 1950) Wednesday 2 June 1915
   Dardanelles Heroes
   It was reported to the relations on Monday that Lieut.-Col. Cox, C.B., had been wounded at the Dardanelles. This would confirm the report received some time ago that the Light Horse had gone as foot re-inforcements at the Dardanelles.
5. ↑ New South Wales Death Index #23372/1944

Memories: 1