Name
Walter James Cox
1893
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
20/04/1915
22
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
13043
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BEDFORD HOUSE CEMETERY
Enclosure no. 2, Plot V, Row A, Grave 34
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
None
UK & Other Memorials
Codicote Village Memorial, Peace Memorial Hall, Codicote, Not on the Hatfield memorials
Pre War
Walter James Cox was born 1893 in Hatfield, Herts, the son of Walter and Harriett Cox and one of seven children.
On the 1901 Census the family were living at Heath Lane, Codicote where his father was working as a farm labourer. By 1911 they had moved to Wheathampsted Road, Codicote, Herts and Walter was working as a farm labourer.
His parents later lived at St Albans Road, Codicote.
Wartime Service
Walter enlisted at Codicote and joined the Bedfordshire Regiment, serving in France from 11 March 1915.
He died on 20 April 1915 after being wounded and taken to a hospital at the rear of the firing line, but was killed when a German shell burst on the building and he was buried beneath the brickwork. His brother Alfred, who was also serving, wrote home to his parents saying that when they dug him out Walter was dead.
He is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
Additional Information
His father received a war gratuity of £3 and pay owing of £3 14s 10d. His mother received a pension of 5 shillings a week. According to a local newspaper report, brother Alfred wrote home to his parents saying that he had "gone through the worst battle of the war" (possibly referring to British efforts to stem the German advance )
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Brenda Palmer, June Colegrove, Roll-of-Honour.com
