David Fox

A Second Lieutenant with the 11th Battalion, David died on 15th of October 1917 at the age of 26. 

David was born at South Shields in 1890: his birth name was David Deacon and his parents were David William and Hannah Deacon. David was baptised at South Shields on 17 June 1890. David’s mother died while he was an infant and he was then adopted by his aunt Emma Fox, nee Deacon, and her husband William Stevens Fox. In 1891 they lived at Norwich Road, Horstead, Norfolk. In 1901 his family lived with Thomas Sampher at 30 Chapel Street, King’s Lynn. They were still living at 30 Chapel Street in 1911 and David was a law clerk. It seems that David moved to Hull before the First World War began. During the war his (adoptive) father was involved in boat-building in the Oulton Broad area. 

David volunteered and enlisted in the Army. He joined the East Yorkshire Regiment and was posted to the 11th (Service) Battalion (2nd Hull), service number 11/615. He was already a Sergeant when the Battalion arrived at Egypt on 23 December 1915. In March 1916 the Battalion moved to France.

David was promoted to Colour Sergeant before leaving the Battalion to attend officer training. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant n the West Yorkshire Regiment on 25 April 1917. David was posted to the 11th Battalion and appears to have joined them, in the field, after 20 September 1917. On 11 October the Battalion moved into front line trenches near Clapham Junction and Zillebecke Bund, Belgium.

The 11th Battalion War Diary for 15 October 1917 has: 

Enemy barrage on front and support line at 5 – 6 p.m. A Company lost heavily. Lieutenant Fox and Company Sergeant major killed, Lieutenant Pearson wounded and many other ranks. 

David’s Medal Index Card gives his next of kin as his biological father: David W. Deacon, 41 Lemon Street, Tyne Dock, South Shields.

David is commemorated on the war memorial at Saint Margaret’s Church.