COX, Robert Christopher
| Service Number: | 13 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 4th Imperial Bushmen |
| Born: | Gawler, South Australia , 1867 |
| Home Town: | Adelaide, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Commercial Traveller |
| Died: | Auckland, New Zealand , 2 May 1915, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Karori Cemetery Karori Cemetery, Wellington; Church of England 2, Plot 114B. |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Corporal, 13, 4th Imperial Bushmen |
|---|
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
ROBERT CHRISTOPHER COX was the son of Christopher John COX & Anne HEWITT and was born in 1867 in Gawler.
He was the eighth child born into the family of 10 children.
His parents were married on the 10th of October 1848 in St Mary’s Church, Eaton, Socon, Bedfordshire.
Robert’s eldest two siblings were born in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, England.
His parents and his two eldest siblings immigrated to South Australia aboard the “Hastings” in 1856 and moved immediately to Gawler, where his father commenced the C. COX painters business in Murray Street, Gawler.
Robert grew up in High Street, Gawler and was educated in the St George’s School, Gawler.
In November 1882, Robert took part in the cycling road race in Gawler.
Robert was an enthusiastic cyclist, as was his brother Walter and they frequently competed against Tom Busst when Tom was the Australian Champion on the old-time ordinary machine.
In 1885 Robert and A. Gault of Adelaide made a remarkably quick bicycle run from Adelaide to Melbourne. They started on the 21st of March and reached their Melbourne quarters on the 30th of March at midday. R
Robert rode a Hillman and Herbert 54-inch machine and Gault was on a Kangaroo 36-inch machine. On one day they rode 102 miles.
Robert was employed by Thomas HARDY, wine merchants.
Robert was a member of the Commercial Travellers Association.
Robert enlisted into the Boer War on the 1st of October 1899 and allotted the service number SN 13.
He was a corporal in the 4th South Australian Imperial Bushmen Contingent, this being the largest contingent that South Australia had committed. It comprised of 12 officers and 122 men under Lt. Col. James Rowell. They embarked on "Manhattan" troopship on the 1st May 1900.
Robert was there for nearly two years and for a considerable portion of the time was orderly to General Paget. He took part in the operations which led to the capture of De Wet, and accompanied the troops who entered Pretoria with the late Lord Roberts.
Robert wrote home on the 10th of July 1900 from Bethleham.
The contingent sailed for home on the 7th of July 1901.
On the evening of the 12th of April 1902 at the monthly meeting of the Commercial Travellers Association, Robert was welcomed back to Australia.
Robert presented the Commercial Travellers Association an elephant gun, which was responsible for the death of an Australian, but the Boer who had used the barbaric weapon fell victim to Robert’s rifle. He also presented them with a case of an exploded 15 pound shell.
Robert returned to his employment with Thomas HARDY, wine merchants.
He would spend four months a year in Australia and eight months a year in New Zealand.
He married Mildred FORD in 1906 in New Zealand
Robert was a member of the Commercial Travellers Club.
Robert died on the 2nd of May June 1915 in Auckland, New Zealand.
He is buried in the Karori Cemetery, Wellington; Church of England 2, Plot 114B.
His estate was worth £2,200
Mildred died 8th October 1961.
They didn’t have any children.
Robert was the brother in-law of Frances Letitia SMITH – she married Christopher John COX in 1898 (daughter of George SMITH jnr - GAWLER SA