Name
Charles Thurgood Cox
1881
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1917
34
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
203495
Bedfordshire Regiment
7th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL
Panel 31-33
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Letchworth Town Memorial
Pre War
Charles was born around 1881 in Hitchin and was christened there on 20 February 1881. His parents were George and Susannah (later just Susan) Cox (née Thurgood). They had married on 14 April 1879.
In 1881 the family were living at Foundry Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents: George (28) and Susannah (28), with George and working as a tinman and brazier. Their children were: Frederick J. (1) and Charles Thurgood at just 2 months old.
By 1891 the family had moved to 15 Union Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with George working in the sane trade. Their children were now those listed above plus: George (8), Albert (6), Gertrude (2) and Lilian at 4 months.
By 1901 the family had moved again and were now living at 11 Victoria Road, Hitchin. Present were both parents, all the children listed above plus Sarah Stengood (73) and grandmother.
In 1911 the family were at the same address. George working, as he seems to have done in all the censuses, as a tinman and brazier. Present were both parents and of the children just Charles now 29 and working as a printer, and Gertrude and Lilian. George ans Suzan had been married for 32 years and had 6 children who were all living.
Before joining up he had been employed for twenty years at William Carling & Co the printers of Hitchin. He had sung in St. Mary's choir for twenty-six years and was a renowned tenor and was also an active member of the Hitchin Junior Conservative Association. Another of his activities was as a member of the Walsworth Bowling Club.
Officially Charles was recorded as born, living and enlisting in Hitchin.
Wartime Service
Charles was allocated the Regimental Number 203495.
He was killed in action in Flanders and had served in the 7th Battalion of the Bedfords. He had only been in the trenches a few days when he was reported as missing, but it was not until June 1918 that his death was confirmed.
This was the day the 18th Division attacked astride the Menin Road in the Ypres Salient, the 7th Battalion of the Bedfords and the 11th Royal Fusiliers leading the attack by the 54th Brigade. The 7th Bedfords reached their objective in Glencorse Wood in about half an hour. However, the units on their flanks were held up and they had to beat off counter-attacks in an awkward salient. The Battalion lost 5 officers and 279 other ranks which was over one third of the Battalion strength. The Battalion was relieved by the 8th Norfolks early the following morning.
The first suggest that he was dead came from the son of Mr V Garratt, of Brand Street, Hitchin who wrote saying he had been killed.
He has no known grave, but is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres in Belgium.
Additional Information
He is shown with the initial ‘G’ on the Hitchin War Memorial, but his name was Charles according to ‘Soldiers died’ database.
After his death £1 13s 8d was authorised to go to his father on 7 September 1918. Later, a war gratuity of £3 was authorised to be paid to him on 20 November 1919.
His pension cards record Susan Cox his mother as his next of kin, living at 14 Victoria Road, Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 9s a week from 19 April 1918. However what appears to be a later record suggest this might have been changed to 10s 10d.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Dan Hill, Louise Fryer, Jonty Wild
