FAMILY LIFE

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. 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.

The Examining Medical Officer stated that Thomas “can see the required distance with either eye; his heart and lungs are healthy; he has the free use of his joints; and he declares he is not subject to fits of any description. I consider him fit for active service.”  On the second page of the Attestation Paper, he 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 … SO HELP ME, GOD.” 

Thomas was Church of England and enlisted as a private into the 25 Infantry Battalion – 19^th 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 received their vaccinations for smallpox, rabies & plague, then a recruit 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

The recruits were issued with their uniform: a khaki woollen jacket, heavy cord breeches and the famous slouch hat – turned up on the left and featuring a plain khaki band, chinstrap and “rising sun” badge. A soldier’s equipment also included a dixie (mess tin), water bottle, mug, .303 Lee-Enfield rifle and bayonet.

VOYAGE OVERSEAS

On the 7 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. They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the training camp at Rollestone, the volunteers left their old lives farther behind. They began their training with physical fitness exercises, they were taught individual and unit discipline, how to follow commands, how to march, some basic field skills and how to safely handle his weapons.  Later, as soldiers specialised in a particular area (for example, machine gunner or signaller) they would be trained in specific skills and would take part in practice manoeuvres and sham fights. They would spend many hours learning training in the use of bayonets, anti- gas training and guard duty along with lectures on camouflage or trench warfare and much more. Training would take many months. Whilst at Rollestone the soldiers are asked to make a will if they have not already done so but Thomas signed a document stating he did not want to make a will

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 9^th August Thomas joined the 25^th 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 2^ND 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 1^st Southern General Hospital in Edgbaston ON 7^TH September and discharged to No 2 command depot at Dartmouth for convalescing on 20^th November 1918

WAR ENDED

On 11^th 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 12^th December 1918 on the HT Nestor as medically unfit due to his wounded shoulder and discharged 1 February 1919.

FOR HIS SERVICE

For his service, Thomas was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal

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