Henry Cox

A Civilian, Henry died on 22nd of July 1941, aged 46. 

Henry is believed to have been born at Whitechapel, London, on 1 January 1894, however his year of birth may have been 1895. His father was Robert Cox. No member of Henry’s family can be traced in any census record before 1921, however Henry and two of his brothers served in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and details of their early life have been found in their service records. 

Between 1904 and 1907 Henry’s family home was at 48 Hayles Street, Southwark. By late 1912 Henry was working at a market garden in South Wales. On 30 December 1912 Henry enlisted in the Army at Carmarthen. He joined the Welch Regiment and was posted to the 2nd Battalion. 

On 22 August 1913 he was allowed to transfer from the Army to join the Royal Marine Light Infantry in which two of his brothers, William Robert and Dennis George, were already serving. During the First World War Henry served with H.M.S. Lowestoft, until 2 April 1915, H.M.S. Tyne, until 19 June 1915, H.M.S. Angora, until 14 November 1915. From 16 February to 1 May 1916, he served with the Royal Marine Brigade in the Mediterranean. He joined H.M.S. Colleen on 3 September 1916 and served with the Colleen until 20 April 1918. Henry was awarded prize money for the destruction of the German ship Blucher and for the destruction of enemy ships during the Battle of Heligoland Bight on 28 August 1914. 

On 29 August 1919 Henry left the Royal Marines and joined the Royal Navy as a Stoker, number K 58405. He was discharged on 3 March 1920, permanently unfit for further service. 

There is no trace on Henry in either the 1921 Census or the 1939 Register, but by July 1941 he was living with his brother, Dennis George, and his family, at 42 Lorne Park Road. Henry joined the Home Guard in Lowestoft and was promoted to Corporal. 

Henry, and his niece Dorothy, died at 42 Lorne Park Road in the air raid on 22 July 1941.