Private Edward Joseph Cox
Service #: 3385
Summary
FAMILY LIFE
Edward Joseph Cox was born in 1893, son of Edward & Mary Jane (Watson)(Glover) Cox. Edward was one of 3 children with 5 step siblings from his mother’s first husband. His younger brother Thomas enlisted in 1916. 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.
Edward was single farmer, 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.
His medical showed he was 24 years old, 5ft 11 ½ inches tall (1.81m), weighed 155 lbs (70kgs), with a dark complexion, brown eyes & black hair. His eyesight was good & required dental treatment
The Examining Medical Officer stated that Edward “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, Edward Joseph 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.”
He was Church of England was enlisted as a private
into the
49th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement with service No 3385. However, he was taken on strength with the 25th
Battalion in January 1918 and his service number became 3385A
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 training for the new recruits 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. Whilst at the camp Edward had dental work done, which finished on 21st December 1916
VOYAGE OVERSEAS
He embarked from Sydney aboard HMAT Ayrshire on 24 January 1917. 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
ENGLISH TRAINING CAMP
He disembarked at Devonport on 13th April. When Australian soldiers arrived in England they were initially sent to depot camps or staging areas, such as Perham Downs, Larkhill, or transit depots near the port. These were not full training camps but temporary holding locations where soldiers could be processed.
During this interim period, soldiers typically:
· Recovered from the voyage: After long sea travel from Australia (often via South Africa), troops needed time to rest and regain strength.
· Underwent medical inspections: To check for illnesses, infections, or conditions like venereal disease that might delay their training.
· Received equipment and uniforms: This included British-issued gear better suited to the Western Front.
· Were assigned to training battalions: Administrative processing sorted soldiers into reinforcement drafts for specific front-line battalions.
· Drilled lightly: They performed light drills, parades, and familiarisation routines while waiting for formal training slots to be available
On 29th April 1917, he and the other recruitments were marched into Codford training camp. Codford Training Camp, located on the Salisbury Plain in Wiltshire, England, was one of several major AIF training camps used during World War I.
They had already completed their basic training in Australia but over many more tough months, in the English training camp, 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.
Training at Codford was intensive and designed to prepare men for the harsh realities of trench warfare. Soldiers underwent physical conditioning, route marches, rifle practice, bayonet drills, and trench-digging exercises. They were taught how to use gas masks, throw grenades, and navigate barbed wire and muddy terrain under simulated battle conditions.
Daily life in the camp was disciplined and regimented. Reveille was early, followed by drills, training sessions, and inspections. There were lectures on battlefield tactics, and mock attacks were often staged to replicate conditions in France and Belgium. The weather was often cold and wet, adding to the hardship and making the training even more gruelling.
The camp also had a reputation for being strict, with a strong focus on discipline and military bearing. Punishments for infractions could be severe. Despite the harsh conditions, Codford played a vital role in ensuring that Australian troops were properly prepared for the front lines.
HOSPITALISATION SCABIES DECEMBER 1917
On 12th December Edward was hospitalised to the Group Hospital at Codford with scabies which is a very itchy skin condition caused by a tiny mite (bug) Scabies is very contagious and spreads quickly. Scabies causes intense itching, threadlike tracks on your skin and sometimes a rash. The rash looks like tiny red lumps and is caused by an allergic reaction to the mite. The treatment of scabies was on the first day the patient was thoroughly rubbed with soft soap for fifteen minutes. He then entered a warm bath where he lay for twenty minutes; during the last five minutes the infected sites were gently scrubbed with a soft brush. This procedure was designed to open the burrows and expose the acari and ova. Steam or shower baths could not accomplish this satisfactorily and were therefore unsuitable. After drying, a liberal quantity of sulphur ointment was rubbed over the whole body below the neck, special attention being paid to the hands, feet, and penis. This inunction was repeated on the second and third days. On the fourth day, but not before, the patient was given a second bath and supplied with clean clothing and bedding. Such articles as socks, wrist straps, gloves, and the string of identification discs also required disinfection. He was discharged on 17th December
OVERSEAS TO FRANCE JANUARY 1918
Edward proceeded to France on 8th January 1918. After crossing the Channel Australian soldiers were sent to one of the Australian Infantry Base Depots (AIBDs) in northern France
At the Base Depot, soldiers:
· Were accommodated temporarily in tent lines or huts.
· Underwent further medical checks and physical conditioning.
· Received final kit issue or replacements, like steel helmets or trench gear.
· Participated in more training, especially focused on trench warfare, gas drills, musketry, and battlefield discipline.
· Waited for transport orders to go “up the line” to join their assigned battalion.
· The base depot system was designed to ensure new arrivals were combat-ready after the journey and the winter conditions in France & to regulate the flow of reinforcements to the front, only sending them when the unit was ready to receive them or when replacements were needed
TAKEN ON STRENGTH 25TH BATTALION- NEW SERVICE NUMBER
On 15th January Edward was taken on strength with the 25th Battalion & his service number had an A add to it
DISCIPLINED JANUARY 1918
On 17th January Edward was late for parade & was given 2 day’s Field Punishment No.2. In Field Punishment Number Two, the prisoner was placed in fetters and handcuffs but was not attached to a fixed object and was still able to march with his unit. This was a relatively tolerable punishment.
WESTERN FRONT & TRENCH WARFARE JANUARY 1918
He & the other recruits 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
· 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
JANUARY 1918
Edward joined the unit in the Ploegsteert sector of Belgium — a section of the front that was relatively quiet but still dangerous. Here, the 25th rotated in and out of the front lines, undertaking routine duties such as trench maintenance, patrols, and resisting occasional enemy raids and artillery.
MARCH 1918
In March 1918, the battalion was pulled back briefly for rest and reorganisation. However, this was short-lived. On 21 March, the German Army launched a massive Spring Offensive, aiming to break through Allied lines before American forces could arrive in strength. Though not initially in the path of the attack, the 25th Battalion was rushed south into France to help stop the German advance.
APRIL 1918
By April 1918, the 25th found themselves near the vital town of Villers-Bretonneux, east of Amiens. The town was critical: its loss would have exposed Amiens and its railway hub to German artillery, a potentially devastating blow to the Allies.
BATTLE OF VILLERS-BRETONNEUX APRIL 1918
The Germans launched a determined assault on 24–25 April 1918, capturing the town temporarily. However, that night, in one of the most iconic Australian actions of the war, two AIF brigades — the 13th (including the 25th Battalion) and the 15th — conducted a daring and successful counter-attack under cover of darkness. Fighting was fierce, often at bayonet-point, and the terrain was difficult, with ruined buildings and shell holes everywhere. The Australians recaptured most of the town by dawn on 25 April — notably, on the third anniversary of the Gallipoli landings.
MAY 1918
The 25th Battalion, along with other units of the 2nd Division, held the line in the days following the attack. Between 25 April and early May, they endured German shellfire, sniping, and counter-attacks, working to consolidate the ground they had regained.
Edward Cox was among those holding the shattered lines around Villers-Bretonneux during this crucial period — a time that is still remembered as one of Australia's most significant contributions on the Western Front.
HOSPITALISED SCABIES MAY 1918
Edward was again hospitalised to the 7th Australian Field Ambulance with scabies on 4th May but only spent two days in care, being discharged on 6th May. A Field Ambulance was a mobile front line medical unit (it was not a vehicle), manned by troops of the Royal Army Medical Corps.
MAY 1918
After the intense fighting of late April, the 25th Battalion held positions east of Villers-Bretonneux, maintaining defensive lines. The ground was devastated from the recent battles, and the men were tasked with consolidating trench systems and constructing new defensive positions & conducting nightly patrols into No Man’s Land to monitor enemy activity. They manned listening posts, keeping a watch for renewed German attacks. They repaired and camouflaged trenches damaged by shellfire. Conditions were tough — the weather was often cold and wet, and German artillery remained active, regularly shelling Allied positions.
JUNE 1918
By late May, Australian units, including the 25th Battalion, began conducting aggressive patrols and small raids to disrupt German positions and gather intelligence. These were dangerous, close-range operations often done at night. Even though there were no major battles during this period, casualties remained steady due to Artillery fire, machine gun bursts during patrols. Gas attacks were increasing in frequency in mid-1918 & sniper fire, particularly in exposed forward areas
WOUNDED IN ACTION JUNE 1918
On 10 June 1918, Edward Joseph Cox was wounded in action. The 25th Battalion was still in the Villers-Bretonneux area, holding the front line and conducting trench operations. He received a gunshot wound to his right arm. It is highly likely Edward was wounded during enemy shellfire or a skirmish while on trench duty or patrol. This was a period of sustained pressure, and men were often exposed to danger even in so-called "quiet" sectors. He was evacuated by stretcher bearers to the 5th Field Ambulance.
EVACUATED TO ENGLAND JUNE 1918
On 16th June Edward was evacuated to England and admitted to the City of London Military Hospital on Clifden Road, Clapton.
TRANSFERRED TO 3RD AUXILIARY HOSPITAL JULY 1918
On 29th July he was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford. After initial treatment at the large military hospital soldiers like Edward, who were recovering but still required medical care, were often transferred to auxiliary hospitals. These auxiliary hospitals were smaller, often converted from local buildings such as schools, homes, or hotels, and located away from the busy main military hospitals in London. Edward was well enough to leave the main hospital but still needed ongoing convalescence and rehabilitation.
Auxiliary hospitals focused on longer-term recovery, including physical therapy, wound care, and preparation for eventual return to duty or discharge. They helped free up beds in main hospitals for new, more severely wounded arrivals.
DISCHARGE TO COMMAND POST AUGUST 1918
On 14th August Edward was marched into No 2 command post at Weymouth. A Command Depot was a military rehabilitation and re-training centre for soldiers who were no longer sick or wounded enough to stay in hospital, but not yet fit enough to return to active duty. By this stage, Edward was assessed as Class 2B — unfit for frontline service but capable of lighter duties. However, it appears his injuries continued to limit his fitness for military work, and a return to active service was no longer possible.
GOING HOME
In September 1918, after over 18 months of service abroad and many months of recovery, Edward returned home to Australia on the Runic. Once in Australia, Edward would have reported to a military hospital or repatriation unit, and likely began the medical discharge process shortly thereafter. He was discharged 28th December 1918
For his service Edward was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, and the Victory Medal
HOME LIFE
Edward died on 8th October 1971 in Brisbane and is buried in Redcliffe Cemetery, Section 2 Row P Plot 26
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
Redcliff Cemetery, Section 2 Row P Plot 26
