Private Thomas Henry Cox
Service #: 6659
Summary
Thomas Henry Cox was born in 1896, in Ballina, one of five children of Edward & Mary Jane (Watson) (Glover) Cox of Teven, near Ballina in New South Wales. Two of Thomas’ brothers also enlisted. Edward & Mary came to the Tweed in the late 1890’s where Edward was employed on the construction of the breakwater. After that was completed, the family moved to Chillingham where they engaged in cane & dairy farming. Edward died in 1927 and Mary, who moved to Cobaki Rd in her later years, died in 1942, aged 90.
ATTESTATION
Thomas was a single farmer, living in Chillingham, eager to do his bit. He travelled to Brisbane on 1st November 1916 to complete his application which showed his next of kin as his mother, Mary, of Chillingham. Thomas had been rejected for service previously due to his heart.
He then signed a declaration confirming he had answered the questions correctly and was willing to voluntarily agree to service in the Military Forces of the Commonwealth of Australia
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CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTING OFFICER
On the second page of the attestation documents the attesting confirms the following; “The foregoing questions were read to the person enlisted in my presence. I have taken care that he understood each question, and his answer to each question has been duly entered as replied to by him”
OATH
He also made the following oath in the presence of the Attesting Officer: “I, Thomas Henry Cox, swear that I will well and truly serve our Sovereign Lord the King in the Australian Imperial Force until the end of the War, and a further four months thereafter unless sooner lawfully discharged, dismissed or removed therefrom: and that I will resist His Majesty’s enemies and case His Majesty’s peace to be kept and maintained; and I will in all matters appertaining to my services faithfully discharge my duty according to law
SO, HELP ME, GOD.”
MEDICAL EXAMINATION
His medical which showed he was 21 years 11 months old, 5ft 10 ½ inches tall (1.79m), weighed 163 lbs (73kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good and he was dentally fit. Thomas was Church of England
CERTIFICATE OF MEDICAL EXAMINER
The medical examiner certifies I have examined the abovenamed person, and find that he does not present any of the following conditions, viz: -
Scrofula; phthisis; syphilis; impaired constitution; defective intelligence; defects of vision, voice, or hearing; hernia’ haemorrhoids; varicose veins, beyond a limited extent; marked varicocele with unusually pendent testicle; inveterate cutaneous disease’ chronic ulcers; traces of corporal punishment or evidence of having been marked with the letters D. or B.C; contracted or deformed chest; abnormal curvature of spine; or any other disease or physical defect calculated to unfit him for the duties of a soldier.
He can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints and limbs; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service
CERTIFICATE OF COMMANDING OFFICER
This is completed during the recruits training. Thomas was in Enoggera training camp when this was completed on 5th February 1917, the day Thomas left Brisbane for Sydney and England. The commanding officer certifies that this attestation of the abovenamed person is correct, and that the required forms have been complied with. He then states “I accordingly approve, and appoint him as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion – 19th Reinforcements with service No 6659
TRAINING AT RIFLE RANGE CAMP, ENOGGERA
As was the case with men from the Northern Rivers district in New South Wales, they trained at Rifle Range Camp, Enoggera near Brisbane. The Barracks Block was built as accommodation for men in two dormitories, each 36 feet by 22 feet (10.97 x 6.7 metres). Beds or bunks were not provided, instead each man slept on a palliasse with ground sheet on the floor. For many it was their first time away from home. Men from every walk of life, from clerks and teachers to factory and shop workers, were crammed together
Now their training began. Firstly, the men had to be inducted into military forms of discipline, command, and order. This was partially achieved through a program of basic training carried and, in a sense, was maintained for a long as a man was in the service.
It involved marching and drilling with the rifle, cleaning and caring for personal equipment and being supervised and inspected in ways quite different to ordinary civilian life. For example, no boots should be allowed to get in a bad state of wear but must be sent to the bootmaker without delay for repair. Men who were found with hair long and unshaven had to have a haircut and shave
Secondly, after basic training there followed the far more serious exercise of turning a man into a fighting soldier at least partially prepared for the kind of warfare he was about to experience overseas
The topics and exercises in the syllabus of training were a world away from their former lives and included daily physical training, entrenching, wiring, firing rifle grenades, firing the Lewis light machine gun, dealing with gas attack, using hand grenades, using the bayonet, and the routines to be followed in the trenches.
This training was then put into practice during what were called ‘Field Days,’ when men would practice using the skills they had acquired in mock attacks both by day and by night. How well men had learnt to use their weapons, in cooperation with each other in training, would be tested in the harsh reality of the front line. Training would take several months
INNOCULATIONS
All recruits were given a range of inoculations while in camp. The most important jab was to protect against smallpox and typhoid – indeed, having this was an essential precondition of enlisting.
THE UNIFORM
The recruits were issued with their uniform- service dress jacket was made of Australian wool and its loose fit gave the wearer more allowance for movement. The four large pockets were very useful. A unique feature designed for comfort was the pleated back, which provided a double thickness of cloth down the back that the pack rubbed against. Breeches were corduroy worn with wool wrap puttees. The famous khaki felt slouch hat or early service cap is probably the most distinctive part of the uniform. turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge.
SOLDIER’S KIT
Australia's World War I soldiers went to war weighed down by almost 30 kilograms of clothes, weapons, tools and kit.
· Breeches: made from khaki woollen cord fabric, with side pockets and button flies. Soldiers were issued with two pairs of breeches, plus a pair of dungarees. The breeches ended above the ankles and the gap was filled with puttees.
· Braces: worn with breeches.
· Puttees: The men wound these strips of woollen cloth, almost three metres long, upwards from the ankle to just below the knee. Soldiers disliked the puttees, probably with good reason: the tight binding restricted circulation and might even have contributed to the high incidence of trench foot. Mounted troops wore leather leggings.
· Shirt: Soldiers were given two grey, collarless, flannel shirt, plus a military shirt.
· Ankle boots: brown and lace-up.
· Socks: Made from wool or cotton. Soldiers were issued with three pairs.
· Greatcoat: the khaki woollen coat (which weighed about 3kg) often doubled as a soldier's bedding and was his chief protection against the cold and wet. The coat came into its own when snow hit Gallipoli in November 1915 and also on the Western Front.
· Jersey
· Singlets: Soldiers were issued with 2 woollen singlets.
· Cotton "drawers" (underpants): Soldiers were issued with two pairs.
· Abdominal belts: a sort of cummerbund that was issued to keep soldiers warm and supposedly ward off disease.
· Backpacks and webbing: The main backpack was a rectangular sack measuring about 15 inches x 13 inches, closed at the top by a folding cover secured by two straps. The webbing included a web belt, cartridge pouches, small haversack, bayonet frog, an entrenching tool holder (plus another holder for its handle), and a water-bottle holder.
· Identity disc: Soldiers were initially issued with one medal "dog tag" on a cord, but later in the war they were given two tags, made of compressed fibre.
· Soldiers were also issued with a "housewife" - a sewing kit containing such items as needles, thimble, thread, wool and button so they could carry out running repairs.
· Also in their kit were a short-magazine Lee-Enfield (SMLE) rifle, a rifle sling, a bayonet and scabbard, and an "entrenching tool" (they were "diggers" after all). This came in two parts, with the helve (handle) separate from the spade part.
· Soldiers were issued with eating equipment (knife, fork, spoon, an enamel mug, water bottle (with two-point capacity), and a mess tin with carrier.
· They also had a clasp knife (with marlin spike, tin-opener and lanyard), razor, shaving kit, soap, comb, two towels, field dressing (carried in the tunic's inside pocket), and a hold-all, in which they could pack their private possessions.
· No item was probably looked after more carefully than their service pay book: privates were paid six shillings a day
VOYAGE OVERSEAS SYDNEY TO ENGLAND FEBRUARY 1917
On the 5TH February the men boarded the troop train in Brisbane and on the 7th February 1917 the recruits left Sydney sailing upon the HMAT Wiltshire. The epic voyage across the ocean has been described as “the longest journey to war in the history of the world.” They thought it was the start of a new adventure- for many it was their first time so far away from home. However, after some time at sea the biggest problem turned out to be boredom. On-board, Officers organised rigorous training drills and exercise sessions for the men. They were expected to do their own washing, sweep the decks and carry out other chores
Attempts at breaking up the boredom, apart from the regular drill, varied. Shipboard activities included regular church parades and concerts. Troops engaged in lifebelt drill; a cookhouse on deck; soldiers on fatigues peeling potatoes 'spud bashing'; going to the dentist; barber, pay day; soldiers cleaning personal equipment; medical inspection. Sports and recreation included boxing, deck quoits, draughts. Also, the commanding officer's morning inspection; kit inspections; submarine drill; recreation such as the on deck 'open air' library, deck billiards, pillow fighting and card games including Nap. As well, conditions on the ships were cramped and the risk of illness was constant.
Three hearty meals a day were served; breakfast usually consisted of porridge, stew, and tea. Lunch included soup, meat, vegetables, and pudding. Meat, bread with jam and tea was served for dinner. Many of the troops experienced bouts of seasickness on the voyage. The crossing the Equator ceremony, ‘Neptune’s Journey,’ was played-out on each troopship.
ARRIVAL IN ENGLAND APRIL 1917
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP ROLLESTONE
They disembarked at Plymouth on 11th April 1917 and were marched into the English training camp. When the recruits arrived in England, they entered a period of intensive preparation that was both physically demanding and strategically vital.
Life in camp was austere and relentless. The recruits lived in wooden huts that offered little protection from the English weather, and the damp cold of the Plain came as a shock to men who had trained in Australia and/or Egypt. Days began early, often before dawn, with physical training designed to build endurance and toughness. Long route marches across the open downs were a regular feature, men carrying full packs, rifles, ammunition, and equipment as they were conditioned for the demands of trench warfare.
Training was systematic and increasingly realistic. The men would have spent many hours on the parade ground mastering drill, weapon handling, and unit manoeuvres, but the focus soon shifted to battlefield skills. The battalion practised trench warfare techniques, including entering and clearing enemy trenches, bombing drills with Mills grenades, bayonet fighting, and the rapid consolidation of captured positions. Specially constructed practice trenches on Salisbury Plain allowed officers and NCOs to rehearse attacks down to the smallest detail, ensuring that every man understood his role once the battalion went into action.
Musketry training was constant. The men would have fired thousands of rounds on the rifle ranges, honing accuracy, and speed, learning to fire from awkward positions and under time pressure. Lewis gun teams trained separately, while all infantrymen were taught how to operate the weapon if needed. Gas warfare instruction was also compulsory; men practised donning respirators under simulated gas attacks, a grim but necessary preparation for conditions at the front.
Between training cycles, the battalion undertook further instruction at nearby camps on Salisbury Plain, including periods at Perham Down, another major training area used to relieve overcrowding and provide additional field space. Here the emphasis was on large-scale exercises involving entire brigades, practising attacks behind creeping artillery barrages, night operations, and movement under cover. These exercises often lasted days, with men sleeping in the open, reinforcing the endurance and discipline required for front-line service.
Despite the hard routine, there were moments of respite. When training schedules allowed, the men may have been granted short leave to nearby towns such as Salisbury or even London, where Australian soldiers briefly escaped the rigours of camp life. These interludes, however, were short-lived, and by autumn the training intensified as the battalion’s departure for France drew closer.
After many months of continuous preparation in England, the Battalion was judged ready for active service. The recruits had been transformed from a newly arrived reinforcement into a fully trained infantryman, accustomed to discipline, hardship, and the mechanics of modern war. When the battalion finally crossed to France, it did so as a cohesive and well-drilled unit, prepared—so far as training could allow—for the brutal realities of the Western Front.
FRANCE AUGUST 1917 BASE DEPOT TRAINING
Soldiers arriving from England usually underwent a short period of further training and conditioning at the base depots in France.
This included familiarisation with trench warfare tactics & use of gas masks and bayonets. They went on route marches to build stamina & battlefield discipline was reinforced. They were also updated on enemy tactics or new weapons (e.g. gas alerts)
Awaiting Deployment Orders
Soldiers did not immediately go to their units. They had to wait for:
· A draft of reinforcements to be requested by the 25th Battalion
· The logistics to arrange movement to the front
· Sometimes, movement was delayed due to transport availability, enemy activity, or unit reorganisation.
Medical Checks & Paperwork
Troops were also given medical inspections, final checks of records, and issued any missing kit or equipment before joining the battalion.
TAKEN ON STRENGTH AUGUST 1917
On 9th August Thomas joined the 25th Battalion, which had, for the last 2 years, rotated through the line and took part in many more battles in France and Belgium.
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE
The soldiers now found themselves fighting the Germans in trench warfare. On the Western Front in 1914–1918, both sides constructed elaborate trench, underground, and dugout systems opposing each other along a front, protected from assault by barbed wire. The area between opposing trench lines (known as "no man's land") was fully exposed to artillery fire from both sides. Attacks, even if successful, often sustained severe casualties. Trench warfare created a living environment for the men which was harsh, stagnant, and extremely dangerous. Not only were trenches constantly under threat of attack from shells or other weapons, but there were also many health risks that developed into large-scale problems for medical personnel. Apart from the inescapable cold during the winters in France & Belgium, trenches were often completely waterlogged and muddy, and crawling with lice and rats
The time soldiers spent in the trenches varied depending on factors like their army's rotation system and the intensity of the conflict in their sector. On average:
· Front-line trenches: Soldiers typically remained here for about 4–6 days at a time. This was where the fighting was most intense and the conditions were the harshest.
· Support and reserve trenches: After time on the front line, soldiers were rotated to these positions for around 6–12 days. These trenches were set further back and offered slightly better conditions.
· Rest periods: Soldiers were then moved away from the trench system entirely for rest, training, and recovery, often lasting several weeks, depending on operational needs.
The rotation system helped prevent complete physical and mental exhaustion, but the constant dangers of trench life meant there was rarely any true respite.
BATTLE OF MENIN ROAD SEPTEMBER 1917
WOUNDED IN ACTION
On 20th September 1917, Private Thomas Cox was wounded in action during the Battle of Menin Road, a key operation within the broader Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) campaign in Belgium. At that time, the 25th Battalion was positioned east of Ypres, near the Menin Road, and was actively engaged in fighting around Westhoek Ridge and Polygon Wood, just south of Zonnebeke.
The attack began early that morning following an intense artillery bombardment. The 25th Battalion, as part of the 2nd Australian Division, advanced over heavily shelled ground towards well-fortified German positions. The battlefield was muddy and cratered, and the men faced fierce enemy resistance, including heavy machine-gun fire and a powerful German counter-barrage.
It was during this action that Private Cox sustained his wounds, a gunshot wound to his right hand’—likely from shrapnel, gunfire, or shell blast—either during the initial advance across no man's land or while consolidating the newly captured ground under enemy fire. Thomas was evacuated to the No 2 Casualty Clearing Station. A casualty clearing station was a medical facility located relatively close to the front lines, but far enough back to be out of immediate danger. It was part of the chain of evacuation and treatment for wounded soldiers.
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND
Thomas Cox was evacuated from the Western Front and transported to England by hospital ship. Instead of being admitted to a large general military hospital, he was sent directly to St Dennis Military Hospital in Cornwall, where he received treatment for his wounds.
CONVALESCENT
Following his initial recovery, Thomas was transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Weymouth on 7th October. These depots were designed for soldiers who no longer needed hospitalisation but were not yet fit to return to active service. From there, he moved to Sutton Veny on 13th November, one of the major Australian staging and training camps on the Salisbury Plain.
On 28th November, he was sent to No. 1 Command Depot at Deverill, another nearby facility used to prepare convalescent soldiers for return to the front. The following day, 29th November, he was shipped back to France and taken on strength by the 2nd Australian Divisional Base Depot (2 ADBD).
REJOINED UNIT DECEMBER 1917
After a few days at the base depot, he rejoined the 25th Battalion in the field on 4th December 1917, returning to active service less than three months after being wounded
DECEMBER 1917 – FEBRUARY 1918: WINTER ON THE YPRES FRONT (BELGIUM)
After the brutal fighting of Passchendaele, the 25th Battalion remained in the Ypres Salient during the bitter winter months.
The unit was largely involved in front-line trench holding, fatigue duties, and working parties under freezing and muddy conditions.
Periodic enemy artillery fire, patrol actions, and harsh weather took a constant toll. They rotated between front-line, support, and rest areas.
MARCH – APRIL 1918: THE GERMAN SPRING OFFENSIVE (FRANCE)
In March 1918, the battalion was rushed south to help counter the massive German Spring Offensive (Operation Michael), which broke through Allied lines on the Somme. The 25th was moved into defensive positions near Amiens and Villers-Bretonneux, where it helped hold the line and prevent further German advances. Though not involved in large-scale attacks during this period, they endured heavy shellfire, gas attacks, and tense conditions as front lines shifted.
MAY – JUNE 1918: DEFENSIVE OPERATIONS NEAR AMIENS
The battalion spent this time consolidating positions, improving trench systems, and conducting patrols and minor raids against the enemy. The front had stabilised somewhat, but casualties from snipers, shelling, and gas remained common. Some time was also spent resting and re-training behind the lines
JULY – AUGUST 1918: THE ALLIED COUNTER-OFFENSIVE BEGINS
On 8th August 1918, the Allies launched a major offensive near Amiens – the beginning of the Hundred Days Offensive that would eventually end the war. The 25th Battalion took part in this offensive, advancing near Morcourt and Bray-sur-Somme in mid to late August.
They fought in open warfare conditions, unlike the previous static trench battles, often advancing across fields under fire. The battalion captured ground, prisoners, and equipment — though at the cost of significant casualties.
2ND SEPTEMBER 1918: BATTLE OF MONT ST QUENTIN / PERONNE
On 2nd September, the 25th Battalion was engaged in the Battle of Mont St Quentin and the attack on Peronne, a key action during the push to break the Hindenburg Line. This was a major and extremely costly battle for the AIF.
WOUNDED IN ACTION SECOND OCCASION
Thomas Cox was wounded on 2ND September, during this action, likely as part of the assault on German defensive positions near Peronne. He received a gunshot wound to his left shoulder/chest
HOSPITALISATION ENGLAND & CONVALESCENT CAMP
He was transferred to the 1st Southern General Hospital in Edgbaston ON 7TH September and discharged to No 2 command depot at Dartmouth for convalescing on 20th November 1918
WAR ENDED
On 11th November the fighting was officially over so he prepared to return to Australia. After the Armistice, the Australian Prime Minister Billy Hughes insisted Australian troops be repatriated (returned home) as quickly as possible. This logistical challenge was enormous with 135,000 troops brought home from Britain in 147 voyages, and 16,773 troops from the Middle East in 56 voyages, mostly on a first come, first go basis. There was a lack of suitable ships to transport personnel home and many had to wait several months before they were headed back to Australia.
GOING HOME
Thomas returned home on 12th December 1918 on the HT Nestor as medically unfit due to his wounded shoulder and discharged 1 February 1919.
CLOTHING AND NECESSITIES GIVEN TO SOLDIERS FOR SOLDIERS PROCEEDING TO AUSTRALIA FOR DEMOBILISATION
Badges Hat Badges Collar (2) Bags kit universal
Bags kit sea Braces (pair) Brush, shaving
Brush, tooth Breeches M.S (Military service)
Cap comforter (warm cap) Comb, hair
Disc identity with cord Drawers (2 pairs)
Great Coat Hat, Khaki fur Hat, white
Holdall Housewife (compact sewing kit)
Jackets Cardigan Jackets S.D (service dress)
Leggings 1 pair Laces, leather 1 pair
Puggarees, small (a traditional Indian head wrap, worn in warm conditions
Puttees, 1 pair (cloth bandages worn by soldiers, to provide support and protection for the lower leg)
Razor Shirts, flannel (2) Socks, 3 pairs
Singlets (2)
Strap chin Soap piece Suit, working
Towels, hand (2)
Titles “Australia” (4)-
Australian soldiers and
non-commissioned officers wore an “Australia” title at the base of their
shoulder straps. Each serving soldier also
wore unit titles above this which
indicated the units to which they belonged
FOR HIS SERVICE
For his service, Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
If you have any additional information about this individual, we invite you to email us at rsl@msmc.org.au.
Memorial Location
We do not know the memorial location of this individual
Buried Location
We do not know the burial location of this individual
