The Cox brothers

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Dobbs Street, Dudley, Edgar Cox, France, George Cox, Great Brickkiln Street, Henry Cox, Midland Counties Express, Royal Navy, South Staffordshire Regiment, Tettenhall, Thomas Cox, William Cox

These are the five sons of Joseph Cox of 6 Gothic Buildings, off Great Brickkiln Street, Wolverhampton, as they appeared in the Midland Counties Express on 30 October 1915. They are

• George Cox (centre) was 48 years old and a Private in the 3rd South Staffordshire Regiment. He had served with the Army for 15 years previously and re-enlisted when war broke out.
• Thomas Cox (left, top) was serving with the 1st/6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment in the Transport section in France. He was 21 years old.
• Edgar Cox (right, top), aged 25, was a Private in the 6th South Staffordshire Regiment
• Henry Cox (left, bottom), 32 years old, had served in the Navy for five years
• William Cox (right, bottom), aged 42, served in the Navy for 26 years and was a wireless operator.

The article also explains that the only reason Mr Cox’s other two sons are not serving is on medical grounds. In 1891, Joseph and Sarah Cox were living at New Village, Tettenhall, with eight sons – George, William, Joseph, Harry, Frederick, Arthur, Herbert, and Edgar Harold. The family were at 19 Dobbs Street by 1901, although George and William did not appear with them, and they had an additional son, Thomas John. They were at 6 Gothic Buildings by 1911, Joseph was widowed and had remarried, and only Edgar and Thomas Cox remained at home.

George was born in around 1870. In 1891, he was a gardener. I have been unable to confirm further details of his military service or his life, but he appears to have survived the war.

Thomas was born in Wolverhampton on 17 August 1894, and was a machine shop’s lad for a brass and general foundry in 1911. On 15 March 1912, he enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 24005). Apart from bouts of influenza, he continued to serve and survived the war. He married Dora Clinton in Dudley in 1920. He died in Wolverhampton in 1981.

Edgar was born in Wolverhampton in 1890. He was a yard labourer for a coal merchant in 1911. On 23 May 1911, he enlisted with the 6th Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 1374). In May 1916 he was discharged as he had reached the termination of his period of engagement. He married Martha A. Harrison in Wolverhampton in 1916. He died on 16 April 1959 at Walsall Manor Hospital, by which date his home address was 9 Countess Street, Walsall. The value of his effects was £1315 7s 7d.

Henry or Harry was born in Wolverhampton on 29 November 1882 and was a railway engine stoker in 1901. By the time he joined the Royal Navy (number SS130) in 1903 he was a fireman, and he served on various ships throughout the war and beyond, until 1921. I have not been able to confirm further details about his life.

William was born on 3 August 1875. He was a bricklayer’s labourer in 1891. From November 1891 until May 1919, he served with the Royal Navy (number 163856), before he was transferred to the Coastguard.

 

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The Cox family

Tags

Arthur Cox, Brickkiln Croft, Edwin Cox, Frank Cox, George Cox, Graisley Street, Harry Cox, John Cox, North Staffordshire Regiment, Royal Field Artillery, South Staffordshire Regiment, Stafford, Walter Cox

An article in the Express & Star on 9 January 1915 stated that a Mr Cox, of 4 house, 1 court, Brickkiln Croft, Wolverhampton, was proud that six of his sons were serving in the Army:

• George, in the 2nd South Staffords
• Harry, 1st North Staffords
• Arthur, Royal Field Artillery
• John, Kitchener’s Army
• Edwin, Territorials
• Frank, Kitchener’s Army

He himself had served in the old 2nd Staffords for 8 years and in the Volunteers for a similar period and stated that, despite being 63 years old, he was still willing to serve if called up.

The Cox family, born in Stafford, were living at 6 Busbys Buildings, Stafford, in 1901. Parents George and Louisa were joined by sons George (born 1882 and a shoe laster), Harry (born 1884 and a shoe finisher), John (born 1885 and a shoe finisher), Edwin (born 1887), Arthur (born 1889), Walter (born 1891) and Frank (born 1895). By 1911, George and Louisa had moved to Wolverhampton, at 10 Graisley Street, but they only had Walter and Frank still living with them. Walter was a locksmith and Frank was an errand boy for a grocer.

The son, George, was a shoemaker, boarding at the home of John Ray in 12 Fancy Walk, Stafford. George enlisted at Lichfield with the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 6443). He disembarked on 30 August 1914, but was killed in action on 6 August 1916. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

In around 1907, Harry appears to have married Florence Launchbury, although I have not been able to confirm details of their marriage. They had two children, Harry Thomas and Clara Louisa. By 1911, he was living with his father-in-law Thomas Launchbury at 53 Spon Lane, West Smethwick. Harry was a labourer. He enlisted in the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment (number 6708), becoming a Lance Corporal. He disembarked on 10 September 1914. He later transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment (number 20205). He appears to have survived the war, but I have been unable to confirm further details about him.

In 1911, Edwin was working as a mental nurse at Coton Hill Asylum in Stafford. I have not been able to confirm further details about him.

By 1911, Arthur was a boarder in the home of Edward Litton at 11 Fancy Walk, Stafford, next-door to his brother, George. Arthur was a labourer in Stubbs salt works. In January 1912, Arthur enlisted in the 6th Battalion of the North Staffordshire Regiment (number 851), before transferring to the 6th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery. He was re-engaged on 20 June 1917  (number 676931), by which date his trade was given as “shoemaker”. He served in France and India. He had a sprained ankle in May 1917, and suffered from trench nephritis in April 1918, but he survived the war. He was disembodied on 15 January 1920.

Walter married Beatrice Holliday in Wolverhampton in 1916. He does not appear to have served in the Army, but I have not been able to confirm further details about him.

I have not been able to confirm further details of the whereabouts of John or Frank Cox.