Royal Navy – HMS Defiance
(Wilton) Percy Cox was born on 22 January 1891 in Stroud. He was one of 11 children born to Harry Wilton and Emma Matilda Cox, of 26 Acre Street, Stroud. Both Harry and Emma were tailors.
On the 1911 census, Percy was living with his parents and stated his occupation as ‘brass finisher’: he was one of nine surviving children.
Percy enlisted in the Royal Navy for 12 years on 30 November 1914 at Devonport. His enlistment papers show him as a ‘fitter and turner’. He was training on HMS Defiance, the floating Torpedo and Submarine Mining School at Devonport, as an engine room artificer, when he was taken ill. He died from pulmonary tuberculosis and heart failure on 10 January 1915 just short of his 24th birthday.
Percy’s death certificate states that he was serving on HMS Vivid (which was the RN’s ‘personnel establishment’). His Mother had travelled to Devonport on being told of her son’s ill health and was present at his death at the Royal Naval Hospital, Devonport.
There is an entry for Percy on the UK Royal Navy Registers of Seaman’s Services 1853-1928. It states that Percy served on Defiance from the date of enlistment until 6 January 1915.
His character was described as ‘very good’ and his ability ‘satisfactory’
There was a lengthy funeral report in the Stroud News on 22 January 1915. It would appear that Percy had always had poor health. The following is from the Rev E H Hawkins’ address: His parents had counted the cost, they knew what their gift would mean to them in the way of pain and anxiety, because they realised his delicate state of health. But fully and freely, they had given him to the service of his country, and he had himself recognised the call when it had come to him.
The report added that the vicar was quite sure that every soldier in the firing line at the front would be the first to admit that Percy Cox’s gift of his life to his country was as great and noble as if he had fallen at the front.
Percy’s brother, Archie was unable to be present at the funeral as he was serving with the Royal Flying Corps.
It would appear that Percy had a sweetheart as one of the many floral tributes was from his own little girl, Peggy.
Percy was buried in a family grave with his name along the kerb barely decipherable but sometime in 2012 the CWGC installed one of their tablet style headstones on the grave referencing his service. I wrote a letter to Stroud Life in November 2012 asking if there were any descendants who were prepared to share information with me but I had no response.
Researched by Helen Wollington 17 February 2016