Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Four: Lance-Corporal A. J. Cox, Royal Fusiliers, missing and later confirmed killed in action on 14 September 1914, during the battle of the Aisne. He was part of the original British Expeditionary Force, landing in France on 13 August 1914, and served through the retreat from Mons and the Battle of the Marne.

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Transvaal, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901, clasps mounted in this order with unofficial rivets between all clasps (8437 Pte. A. Cox. Rl: Fus: M.I.); 1914 Star (8437 L.Cpl. A. J. Cox. 4/R. Fus.); British War and Victory Medals (L-8437 Pte. A. J. Cox. R. Fus.); Memorial Plaque (Alfred John Cox); Memorial Scroll (L/Cpl. Alfred John Cox Royal Fusiliers), in addressed scroll holder, with Buckingham Palace enclosure, QSA very fine, the Great War awards extremely fine (5) £500-600

Alfred John Cox was born in Paddington, London, and attested for the Royal Fusiliers at Hounslow. He served with the Regiment’s Mounted Infantry during the Boer War, and on the outbreak of the Great War was recalled for service with the 4th Battalion. His new battalion was one of the first to embark for the Western Front; he arrived with them on the Continent on 13 August 1914, as part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division, II Corps, and advanced with them as far as the town of Mons, just over the Belgian border, reaching the outskirts of the town on 22 August. That morning a patrol from the 4th Dragoon Guards had encountered a German picquet on the road leading to Mons and, firing upon it, had driven it off - the first shot of the War fired by the British on the Continent. Further reconnaissances carried out that day by British Cavalry units established the fact that the German forces in great numbers were present in the vicinity, and the entire British Expeditionary Force was ordered to advance forward to take up a position on the banks of the Mons-Condé Canal. Following a trying march over cobbled roads, Cox’s Battalion reached the canal on the afternoon of 22 August. As would soon become apparent, the canal formed a far from ideal defensive line. Forming a broad loop as it skirted around Mons it thus created a salient, which was ill-adapted to a prolonged and serious defence. Two bridges crossed the canal here, a road bridge and a rail bridge; if the Germans were able to capture these bridges then the British Expeditionary Force would be surrounded and would have to evacuate their entire front line. ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies, 4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, were positioned at this critical point and were responsible for the embankment and the two bridges.
The following morning, Sunday 23 August, the Germans launched their attack at 09:00 hours, as four battalions were suddenly flung at the railway bridge - the first infantry attack of the Great War. Despite the gallantry shown by the Battalion’s machine-gunners, especially Lieutenant M. J. Dease and Private S. F. Godley, casualties mounted steadily, and at 14:00 hours the orders came for the Battalion to withdraw. They had to move from their dangerous position across 250 yards of exposed open ground which was being swept by shrapnel and machine-gun fire. Private Godley alone remained at his gun, maintaining a covering fire until all the Battalion had been successfully evacuated with minimal additional casualties. For their supreme valour both Dease and Godley were subsequently awarded the Victoria Cross- the first V.C.s awarded during the Great War.

Cox continued with the 4th Battalion, and served through the retreat from Mons. He was present in the Battle on the Marne, the retirement on Paris, and the action at Vailly, near Braisne, during the battle of the Aisne, on 14 September 1914. The Battalion history records:
‘13th & 14th September 1914. The battle of the Marne began to merge into the battle of the Aisne. The bridges had been blown up, and when the battalion reached Vailly their only means of crossing was by a narrow plank which wobbled very suggestively as the men went across. A position had to be taken up to the left of Rouge Maison Farm. When the battalion approached the spot it was pitch dark and pouring with rain. X and Z Companies pushed forward and took up an outpost line, just after midnight, on the Rouge Maison Spur. The other two companies occupied a hollow road in the rear; and all spent a very wet night in the open. The importance of this bold advance in the dark was not realised at the moment; but it soon became apparent from the German efforts to dislodge the Fusiliers from their position. The morning of the 14th dawned wet and foggy; and it was at once seen that the depth of the battalion's advance had been too great for the extent of its hold on the plateau. One of Byng's posts was so close to the enemy main line that the Germans could be clearly heard talking. The two forward companies began to extend their line towards the left, W and Y being sent forward to support them. As W advanced to support X it was discovered that there was a trench about 300 yards from their right, and the company wheeled to face it. A patrol sent forward was immediately fired upon, and the position had hardly been disclosed before the battalion on the right was seen to be retiring. The Germans immediately profited by this mischance to take the Fusiliers' right flank in enfilade with machine guns, and many casualties were suffered.
The whole of the plateau now came under rifle, machine gun and shell fire, with the support of which the Germans attacked. Byng moved too far to the left and Ashburner, who had now resumed command of Y Company, ceased to follow and moved to support W. Ashburner's company was ordered to move to the cover of the steep bank west of the road and remain in reserve. These positions were held till nightfall, when the losses of the day were seen to have been extremely heavy. Captains Byng, Cole and Attwood and Lieutenant Hobbs were killed, Lieutenant Orred wounded, and 200 other ranks were killed or wounded.’
Initially posted as Missing in action, Cox was amongst those killed. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France.

Sold together with the War Office letter confirming the recipient’s death, and hand annotated by the recipient’s Commanding Officer; and a photographic image of the recipient.