Alfred Baxter-Cox

Brigadier Alfred Richard Baxter-Cox, (7 September 1898 – 18 October 1958) was an Australian architect and army officer, who served during both the First and Second World Wars.

Early life Baxter-Cox was born in Cue, Western Australia on 7 September 1898. His father, Alfred Edward Cox, was an architect practising in Perth. Baxter-Cox himself became an architect and draftsman, and served in the Militia prior to his enlistment in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 January 1916.

First World War Enlisting as an other rank in the Royal Australian Engineers, Baxter-Cox held the rank of sapper when he was posted to Engineering Reinforcements camped on Blackboy Hill, Western Australia on 29 February 1916. He embarked for service overseas on A38 Ulysses on 26 March 1916, disembarking at Marseille, France, on 5 May 1916, after which time he was posted to the Mining Corps. On 19 August 1916 he was promoted to corporal, and on 18 December he transferred to 3rd Tunnelling Coy. On 30 April 1936 he was transferred to the unattached list. and with it came the rank of temporary brigadier. Shortly afterwards he was posted to the 2/16th Battalion and given responsibility for raising the battalion. He remained in command of the battalion during its deployment to the Middle East before being promoted to temporary brigadier (having relinquished the rank in April 1940) and taking over command of the 25th Infantry Brigade in March 1941. He remained in command of the brigade until June 1941 after which he undertook a variety of positions on the staff of Army Headquarters.

While holding the rank of temporary brigadier, Baxter-Cox was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire on 14 June 1945. He was discharged on 14 August 1946, with his final posting being to the headquarters of the 25th Infantry Brigade with the substantive rank of colonel and the honorary rank of brigadier.

Later life Baxter-Cox died on 18 October 1958, aged sixty.