1st April 1918

Private Arthur Noel Cox, 20th Hussars was killed in action on 1st April 1918. He was the 11th of 12 children of whom three had died by 1911. One of Arthur’s brothers – Edward John Cox, a regular soldier – had died in 1915 of illness, after being involved in the ‘Wayfarer incident’.

Arthur was born in Monkspath on 19th April 1897, although the family had moved to Copt Heath Farm by 1911. He was the second-youngest of the 12 children of parents William, a farmer, and Alice Mary (née Mathews) who had married in Hammersmith, London in January 1880. He had a younger sister, Margaret Mary, who died in June 1901, aged just 19 days, and was buried at St James’ church, Shirley.  Another brother, Horace, died in 1896, aged one, whilst a sister, Mabel Muriel, died in 1895, aged 12.

The couple set up home in Temple Guiting, Gloucestershire but they moved up to Warwickshire in 1887/8. They lived in Wootton Wawen and Claverdon before moving to Solihull by 1896, and then to Lodge Farm, Monkspath by 1898. Sometime between 1901 and 1911, they moved to Copt Heath Farm.

Arthur was baptised at Knowle parish church at the age of 17, on 27th March 1915. His older sister, Edith Kathleen (born 15th January 1896) was christened at the same time.

We don’t know when Arthur enlisted, but he didn’t see any overseas service before 1916.

Private Arthur Noel Cox is buried at Moreuil Communal Cemetery Allied Extension, France and is commemorated locally in the Soldiers’ Chapel, Knowle.

If you have any further information, please let us know.

Tracey
Heritage & Local Studies Librarian

tel.: 0121 704 6977
email: heritage@solihull.gov.uk