 Son of Mr John & Mrs Annie Cox
Aged 29 years
Died 9th February 1915
Commemorated at Merville Communal Cemetery
Grave I. J.4.
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| Born at Birmingham, enlisted at Bedford. His parents lived at 9 Ealing Terrace. |
Notes from Martin Taylor
John Cox was born in Birmingham in 1886, eldest son of John and Annie Cox. Two years later they had moved to Northampton, and by 1894 had moved again to Irthlingborough. In 1911 John was boarding with John Charles Smith at Robinson Road, Rushden. When he enlisted he was living at Wymington, and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment. John is buried at Merville, the scene of fighting between the German, French and British cavalry in October 1914. From October 1914 to April 1918 it remained in Allied hands; first it was HQ of the India Corps, and was a railhead until May 1915, when it became a billeting and hospital centre.
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The Rushden Echo Friday 26 March 1915, transcribed By Nicky Bates
Death of Rushden Soldier - Private J Cox - Succumbs to Wounds Received Accidentally
We extend our sympathies to Mr and Mrs Cox, Ealing-terrace, Rushden, who have lost their son, Pte J Cox, of the 2nd Beds Regt. The War Office announced the death on Tuesday. Pte Cox had not sent a great deal of information regarding the war. In a letter written just after Christmas, he says:-
"I spent Christmas Day in the trenches and it was a very silent day. We held an armistice with the Germans. Some of our regiment and some of the Germans met between the trenches and shook hands with each other and wished each other the compliments of the season. The Germans told us they wished the war was over. I would rather be at home to help you eat the turkey, but my country needs me to fight for her liberty. I am sending you my Christmas Box received from Princess Mary, and if I do not come home, keep them in remembrance of me".
In the last message sent home Pte Cox said he was all right. The War Office states that he died from wounds accidentally received.
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Kettering Leader, February 1915, transcribed by John Collins.
Rushden Private in the Bedfords Killed
Mr. Cox, of Ealing-terrace, Rushden, on Tuesday received the sad news of the death of his son, Private J. Cox, of the 2nd Beds. They had not heard from him for eight weeks. A friend showed them Pte. Cox’s name in the casualty list, and they wrote to the War Office for information. On Tuesday a form was received stating that he died on February 9th from wounds received accidentally. Private Cox was 29 years of age, and had been in the Army six years. He went to the front on August 8th, and the fatal injury was his first wound. At Christmas he shook hands with some of the Germans.
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