Christopher Augustus Cox was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Details

He was 27 years old, and a Private in the 7th Bn., The Bedfordshire Regiment , British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.

On 13 March 1917 at Achiet-le-Grand , France during an attack by the battalion, the front wave was checked by very heavy artillery and machine-gun fire and the whole line had to take shelter in shell holes to avoid annihilation. Private Cox, a stretcher-bearer, went out over fire-swept ground and, single-handed, rescued four men. Having collected the wounded of his own battalion he then helped to bring in the wounded of the adjoining battalion. On two subsequent days he carried out similar work with complete disregard of his own safety.

Further information

He was born on 25th Dec 1889 and was married with one son when war was declared but still volunteered in Sep 1914 when Kitchener made his appeal. He went to France in Jul 1915 and spent nearly 2 years in the trenches first on the Somme near Albert. He was wounded on the first day of the Somme offensive. He was also at Thiepval in Sep 1916 and back to the Bihucourt assault in Mar 1917 where he won his VC and sustained serious wounds to his foot which resulted in him being sent back to England.

His family expanded to 8 children and 14 grandchildren, and he was much loved by them all. On the 28th April 1959 he died aged 69.

His Victoria Cross is currently on display at the Imperial War Museum, London, England.

Reference

• Mary Hallett

External links

• Location of grave and VC medal (Hertfordshire)
• Christopher Cox VC (brief biography but with detailed citation and report transcriptions)

This page has been migrated from the Victoria Cross Reference with permission.