Cox, John Richard (Jack)

John was the oldest son of eight children. He was baptised at All Saints Church on the 17th August 1882. He had one older sister, Ellen and three younger sisters, Florence, Minnie and Gerty. His three brothers were Edward, Ernest and Percy. John’s father Albert was a Coachman. Edward and Ernest also joined the Worcester Regiment. Edward was killed at Gallipoli in June 1915 just six months after John. Ernest survived the war but was disabled.

Extract from ‘Warwick in the Great War’ by Graham Sutherland, by kind permission of the author:

“The Cox Brothers – under Lord Derby’s voluntary recruitment scheme started in 1915, men aged 18 to 41 who were not in essential employment were invited to make a public declaration promising to serve if needed, and they wore an arm band to show their willingness to fight if called upon. The three Cox brothers had made the declaration and were duly called up. Mr. and Mrs. Cox of 43 Emscote Road, both of them elderly, appealed to Lord Derby for their last son to be transferred to home duties. His two older brothers had been killed in France. He agreed, adding the proviso that their son would be sent abroad again if it proved necessary”