1st Garrison Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
John George Cox was born in Cheltenham in 1883. His parents were John Cox (1858-1889) and his wife Catherine (nee Nash: 1856-1916). Besides John, the couple had two children, Ellen Louisa Winifred (born 1879) and Charles Samuel (born 1888). Following the death of her husband, Catherine remarried in 1893, to Henry Hawkins. At the time of the 1901 Census, John was aged 16 and living at 45 Worcester Street, Cheltenham, with his mother and step-father. He was employed as a general labourer.
In 1908 he married Ada Lillian Walker (1885-1947) and the couple had two children, Emma Lillian (1909-1914) and Cyril John born 1911). Cyril was born after the 1911 census was taken and John, his wife and daughter lived at 3 Hamilton Place, Cheltenham. His occupation was now a carter (or wagon driver) for a coal merchant.
Virtually no records pertaining to John’s Army service have survived. His Army number indicates that he probably enlisted or was conscripted in early 1916 and it does not appear that he served abroad. His age and fitness maybe dictated that he was fit for UK service only and he was posted to 1st (Reserve) Garrison Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (‘C’ Company). The battalion was formed in Portsmouth in January 1916 and in 1917 was based at Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
According to the Register of Soldiers’ Effects (located at the National Army Museum) Private Cox was discharged from the Army on 15 January 1917. A recently released Pension Record Card states that he died whilst serving in ‘Class W’ and his widow was refused a pension.
According to the website, The Long Long Trail, Class W Reserve was introduced in June 1916 under the recent Military Service Act and was ‘for all soldiers whose services are deemed to be more valuable to the country in civil rather than military employment’. Men in this class were to receive no emoluments from any funds and were not to wear a uniform. They were liable at anytime to be recalled to the colours and whilst in Class W were not subject to military discipline.
Private John George Cox died at Cheltenham on 27 October 1918, age 34. The cause of death is unknown (in the absence of sight of a death certificate). He was buried in Cheltenham Cemetery on 31 October and a standard CWGC headstone marks his grave. His widow remarried in 1919 and became Mrs Lockey and when the CWGC Register was compiled was living at 3 Hamilton Place, St Paul’s Road, Cheltenham. He is not named on the Cheltenham War Memorial.
Researched by Graham Adams 8 May 2020
(Photo copied from a Public Members’ Tree on the Ancestry website)