Cox William Cpl 20927

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Surname: Cox;

Forename(s): William;

Initials: W;

Number: 20927;

Rank: Cpl;

Born in: Chalfont, Berks;

Enlisted in: Hounslow;

Resided in: Southall, Middx.;

Previous Number: g/5835;

Previous Battalion: 2 of;

Previous Regiment: R Fus;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 85 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 85 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 85 Coy;

Date abroad: 15-Dec-1915;

Theatre of War: 2b;

How killed: KIA;

Where: France;

When killed: 23-May-1917;

Other Data: 1914-15 Star roll
wounded - 86 Coy war diary summary July 1916
photo: GS Archives
William Cox was born in Chalfont in the Amersham
district of Berkshire in 1892, the first child of William
and Catherine Cox (nee Longland). Catherine had been
born in Northamptonshire but the newly married couple
had made their home in the Amersham area where
William Senior hailed from, and where he worked as a
maltster preparing the malt from grain to a brewer's
specification.
By the age of 9, William was living in the small hamlet of
Magpies in the parish of Harmondsworth, Middlesex, an
area which today has been mainly taken over by
Heathrow Airport.
The Cox family moved to live at 5 Adelaide Cottages,
Canal Side, Southall in Middlesex where, a year later,
when William was 10, general labourer William Senior and Catherine increased their family
with the birth of George James and again, in 1904, when Emily Clara was born. Shortly
afterwards, Catherine was left a widowed, single mother when her husband, William, died.
In 1911,19 year old William was working as a picture frame maker whilst Catherine is listed
as a Market Gardener.
William enlisted in the army at Hounslow at the outbreak of war where he joined the Royal
Fusiliers, in the 86th Infantry Brigade, 29th Division and was given the service number
G/5835.
William's mother, Catherine, had moved to the Chesterfield area around 1916 and made her
home at 12, Allport Terrace, one of the Midland Railway Cottages at the top of the hill, the
home William would have returned to had he survived. To be allocated these cottages,
some-one living at the address was required to work for the Midland Railway and it could be
surmised that either Williams' younger brother, George James, was employed by the
company or that Catherine had lodgers who were.
William himself "was not known in the district, his mother having removed to Barrow Hill
about a year ago." He was posthumously awarded the 15 Star and the British War and
Victory Medals.;

Other Notes: COX, Corporal, WILLIAM, 20927. 85th Coy. Machine Gun Corps (Inf). 23rd May 1917. Age 25. Son of Mrs. Catherine Cox, of 12, Allport Terrace, Barrow Hill, Chesterfield. Bay 10. Arras Memorial - Pas De Calais, France;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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