Charles Frederick Cox was born
at Pennant Hills on 2 May 1863 and
joined the colonial railways as a clerk
in 1881. He enlisted in the New South
Wales Lancers in 1891 and was
commissioned in 1894. He proved a
forceful and reliable officer. As lieutenant, he was a member of the detachment that went to England for the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897, being in command until Captain Vernon arrived in England.
In 1899, he took a squadron of
lancers to England at their own
expense to train with regular cavalry.
While there, war broke out in South
Africa and Cox and most of his men
volunteered. He was present with the NSW Lancers at the following general engagements: Arundel, Riet River, Modder River, Relief of Kimberley, Dronfield, Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Bloemfontein, Brandfort, Ventersburg Road, Vanwyksrust, Klipriversberg, Doornkop, Kalkheuvel Poort, Diamond Hills, Olifantsfontein, Langkloof, Swartzkop, Wartburg Hills, Barberton. He also took part in a number of minor engagements.
In 1901, Cox took 3rd New South
Wales Mounted Rifles to South Africa where they joined a
force led by Colonel M. F. Rimington in the guerrilla phase
of the war. Later, Rimington wrote of them: “They … are
thoroughly good soldiers ... Under splendid officers, their
coolness, self-reliance and dash brought them out of
difficulties where other troops might have suffered
severely.” Cox was appointed a Companion of the Bath
and mentioned-in-despatches. He had won a reputation as
a fearless leader and earned the nickname “Fighting
Charlie” (Hill 1981).
After the war he reverted to brevet-major at home. From 1903 he was second
in command of the Lancers under Colonel Vernon and from 1906 was in command. On 1 October 1911 he relinquished command and was placed on the Unattached List.
On the outbreak of World War I, Cox raised 6th
Australian Light Horse Regiment, which fought
dismounted on Gallipoli in 1915. Cox, after recovering from
shrapnel wounds, assumed command of 1st Light Horse
Brigade in September and led it for the remainder of the
Gallipoli campaign and throughout the Sinai and Palestine
campaigns of 1916-18.
At Magdhaba in Sinai on 23 December 1916 when
caught in the open by Turkish artillery, Cox handled the
brigade with great flexibility, saving heavy casualties. Later
in the same fight, when a stalemate appeared to have
been reached and no water was available for the horses,
the divisional commander sent an order for withdrawal just
as Cox was preparing to assault a Turkish position. Cox
ignored the order. The successful assault by his 3rd
Regiment broke the Turkish resistance (Hill 1981).
In 1917-18, Cox commanded the brigade in Palestine
and Syria. At Abu Tellul in the Jordan Valley on 14 July
1918, he again revealed his instinctive grasp of a battle
when he launched his 1st Light Horse Regiment in a
counter-attack against a strong enemy force which had
penetrated far into his position. His timing was exact; the
enemy, caught between the 1st Light
Horse and fire from Cox’s posts,
surrendered in hundreds (Hill 1981).
Cox was not without his critics.
Nevertheless, his record was one of
unbroken success. He was appointed
a companion of both the Order of St
Michael and St George and the
Distinguished Service Order and was
mentioned-in-despatches many times.
Gullet (1923, 65) says: “Cox …
(was) a very spirited cavalryman. … a
man of instant intuitive resolve and
swift tempestuous action. He won his
‘CB. in South Africa … by an inspired
decision to lead his men at the gallop
round the flank and across the rear of
a greatly superior force of Boers who
were seriously threatening a British
infantry position. His dramatic move
unnerved and broke the enemy, who
fled in disorder. The action was
characteristic of the man, and was repeated in more than
one fight in Palestine.”
“‘Fighting Charlie’ … had never been a deep student of
war. He relied upon his native wit and his common sense
… Except in actual operations, he left the conduct of his
brigade almost entirely in the hands of his staff .... But …
in more than one crisis in Palestine, (he) took hold of his
force with the grasp of the real leader, and turned a critical
fight into sudden complete victory. These flashes were
apparently so unpremeditated and so daring that critics
feared Cox would one day sustain a bad failure. But both
in South Africa and in Palestine his instinct in the thick of
battle was always sound, and gave him a sure, strong grip
on the confidence and affection of his brigade” (Gullett
1923, 65-66).
After the war, Cox represented New South Wales in the
Senate from 1920 to 1938; and continued to serve with the
Militia, commanding 1st Cavalry Division before retiring as
an honorary major-general in 1923. He devoted himself to
the welfare of returned soldiers and was much in demand
on public occasions.
He served as honorary colonel of the New South Wales Lancers (Royal from 1935) from 1928 on the passing of Lord Carrington, the Lancers' first honorary colonel until his own death.
Survived by his wife and daughter, he died at Croydon on 20 November 1944 and was buried in the Anglican section of Carlingford cemetery with full military honours.
References
Gullett, H. S. (1923). The Australian Imperial Force in Sinai
and Palestine, 1916-18: official history of Australia in
the war of 1914-18, Volume 7 (Angus & Robertson:
Sydney).
Hill, A. J. (1981). Cox, Charles Frederick (1863–1944).
Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 8
(Melbourne University Press: Melbourne) pp. 128-129.
Vernon, P.V. (Editor) (985) (RNSWL Centerary Committee: Parramatta) pp.399-400
Brigadier David Leece PSM, RFD; 2010