No.5198, Corporal, Dick Mendham COX
Aged 20
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Dick Mendham Cox was born in Dalham (Newmarket Q3-1897 3B:498), baptised 29th August 1897 in Dalham St. Mary's, son of Edgar and Lucy COX (née KEMP).
1901 census...Aged 3, he was in Silverley, Ashley cum Silverley, with his father Edgar [34] a horse keeper, born Cavenham; his mother Lucy [31]; sisters Lizzie [7] and Lucy [2] and brothers Alfred [6] and twins Edgar and Charles [5 months]. All except his father were born in Dalham. 1911 census...Aged 13, a farm labourer, he was at Dalham with his parents; sister Lucy and brothers, twins Edgar and Charles, Lewis [7] Harry [5] and William [2]. The new siblings were born in Dalham. One child of Lucy's 10 had died. |
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He enlisted in Bury St.Edmunds. The war diaries of the 8th East Surreys for this period are quite detailed and can be seen here http://qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/ES00819180402.pdf In essence they were in the Amiens area, under severe pressure from the German in the early phase of the Kaiserschlacht (the Spring Offensive). They were attacked from the direction of the Marcelcave - Aucourt road. The weather had made live very difficult, the liquid mud clogging up rifles and reducing the rate of fire by 2/3rds. Many men were eventually virtually un-armed as a result and a withdrawal was made. The actual death toll was 'only' 32 but wounded and captured men reduced the battalion and that of the neighbouring 7th Buffs to such an extent that a composite battalion had to be formed from the remnants.
photo: Roy Beardsworth click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
