Robert Elder Cox
Rank:
Private
Serial No:
Serial No. 1581A
Regiment:
4th Light Trench Mortar Battery, 53rd Battalion, 19th Battalion
Suburb:
Minto
Robert Elder Cox - Information
Robert was the only son of William James and Eleanor Cox, born in 1891 at Surrey Hills. Robert attended Petersham Superior Public School, before training in wool classing at Sydney Technical College. Robert then resided with his family at Neuk in Minto, where he worked as a wool classer. When Robert was 25 years old he enlisted at the Royal Show Ground in Sydney on the 4th of September 1916. Stationed with the Dubbo Depot Battalion, he was then transferred to the 4th Light Trench Mortar Battery at Menangle Park. On the 9th of November 1916, he embarked Sydney Harbour on the HMAT Benalla.
Robert and his unit landed at Devonport on the 9th of January 1917, and were then marched into Perham Downs. In March, Robert was sent to France to reinforce the 53rd Battalion, but was assigned to the 19th Battalion the following month. At the time, the 19th Battalion were chasing the Germans to the Hindenburg Line, and hit them at Bullecourt on the 3rd of May. They were then shifted to Belgium to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. While going into position near Menin Road, Robert was killed in action on the 19th of September 1917. Sadly, the location of his grave was lost in the chaos of battle. Robert's name is recorded on the Menin Gate Memorial in Ieper (Ypres), Belgium.