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Major General Walter Adams Coxen CB CMG DSO was a senior Australian Army officer in the First World War. In April 1930 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff.
Walter Adams Coxen was born on 22nd June 1870 in Egham, Surrey, approximately 31 kilometres (19 miles) west of central London, England, United Kingdom. He was the second son of Victorians Henry William Coxen, born in Surrey, and Margaret Moorhead, born in India. [1][2]
In 1871, the family was living in Egham and comprised: [3]
The Coxen family returned to Queensland in 1880, with their children, after an absence of some 13 years. After completing his formal education at Brisbane and Toowoomba Grammar Schools, Walter took a job with the Queensland Department of Railways as a clerk and draftsman in 1887, but was retrenched in 1892 due to the economic depression of the 1890's.
The following year he was commissioned into the Queensland Militia Garrison Artillery as a Second Lieutenant. In June 1895 he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Permanent Military Forces, in the Queensland Artillery and then sent to England to study at the Royal School of Gunnery at Shoeburyness, concentrating on coast defence and siege artillery, and then went to Aldershot for training with the Royal Artillery in 1898. On returning to Australia in 1899 Coxon was appointed commander of the garrison on Thursday Island, on promotion to Captain.
On 26th March 1902, Walter married Adelaide Beor in Chatswood, New South Wales. [4] They had four daughters and a son:
In July that year Walter succeeded Major William Bridges as Chief Instructor at the School of Gunnery at Middle Head. In November 1907, Coxen again went to England for ordnance training at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He was promoted to Major in 1908, and returned to Australia in February 1910. In January 1911 he was appointed Director of Artillery.
Upon the outbreak of war, Walter was appointed Inspector of Coast Defences on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel. [5] On 21st May 1915 Coxen was ordered to raise the brigade of siege artillery (SAB) for service in Europe. The brigade was to consist of two batteries, with eight siege guns to be supplied by Britain and 415 officers and other ranks, about half of whom would be permanent force artillery gunners. The brigade, which became known as the 36th Heavy Artillery Group (36 HAG), departed Melbourne on 17th July 1915 and landed in England on 25th August 1915. After a delay due to a short supply of heavy artillery pieces, the 54th Siege Battery was equipped with 8 inch howitzers and the 55th Siege Battery with 9.2 inch howitzers. The batteries moved to France on 26th February and 2nd March 1916 respectively. 36 HAG joined 1st Anzac Corps Artillery and took part in the Battle of Pozières in support of the Australian infantry. For his services, Coxen was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in the 1917 New Year Honours. [6] Following the war he was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
On 18th January 1917, Coxen replaced Brigadier General Talbot Hobbs as commander of the 1st Division Artillery. He was subsequently promoted Brigadier General. He was awarded the Italian Officer of the Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus. [7] That October, Coxen took over as commander of the Australian Corps Artillery and was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1918 New Year's Honours. [8] He returned to Australia in August 1919 and became Chief of Ordnance, and a member of the Military Board. In the 1919 New Year's Honours, Coxen was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). [9] He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre (Belgium) February 1918. [10]
Walter became Deputy Quartermaster General in April 1920, Chief of Artillery in May 1921 and Quartermaster General in 1925. In March 1927 he was promoted to Major General and became Chief of the General Staff in April 1930 following the retirement of General Sir Harry Chauvel. He faced compulsory retirement, aged 61 years, from the military on 1st October 1931.
He was the director of the council for Victoria's centenary celebrations in 1934.
Walter passed away, aged 79 years, on 15th December 1949 in the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg, Victoria. [11]
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Categories: Australian Army Generals | 36th Heavy Artillery Group, Australian Imperial Force, World War I | Colonial Military Force, Queensland | Royal School of Gunnery, Shoeburyness | Royal Military Academy, Woolwich | Australian Army Generals, Chiefs of Army | 1st Division Artillery, Australian Imperial Force, World War I | Brisbane Grammar School, Spring Hill, Queensland | Toowoomba Grammar School, East Toowoomba, Queensland | Companions of the Order of the Bath | Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George | Distinguished Service Order | Croix de Guerre 1914-1918 (Belgium) | Australia, Notables in the Military | Notables | Anzacs, World War I