Charles Cox

Major General Charles Frederick Cox, (2 May 1863 – 20 November 1944) was an Australian Army officer and politician. He retired in 1923 as an honorary major general.

Early life Charles Frederick Cox was born on 2 May 1863 at Pennant Hills, New South Wales. He was a grandson of William Cox. He was educated in Parramatta and became a clerk with the New South Wales Railways traffic audit branch in 1881.

Cox enlisted in the New South Wales Lancers in 1891 and was commissioned as a lieutenant in 1894. In 1897 he was chosen to head a detachment of the regiment in the ceremonies for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee.

The lancers returned to Australia in December 1900. and given command of the newly formed 3rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles, with which he returned to South Africa in April 1901. and received the decoration from the Prince of Wales during a large coronation parade of colonial troops in London on 1 July 1902.

Cox remained with the lancers, which became the 1st Light Horse in 1903. He became the commander in 1906 and was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 2 April 1908. In 1911 Cox was transferred to the unattached officer list. while in his dugout. He was evacuated and did not rejoin his regiment until 1 July. He held this post for the duration of the war.

The 1st Light Horse Brigade arrived back in Egypt on 28 December 1915. The brigade was sent to Wadi Natrun, south west of Cairo, to protect the Kataba Canal against the Senussi. On 11 February 1916, the brigade, less the 3rd Light Horse Regiment, entrained for Minia. They remained there until May, patrolling the area for signs of the Senussi.

Group portrait of Brigadier General Charles Cox, sitting, and staff of the 1st Australian Light Horse Brigade, pictured here in Palestine, November 1918.

In May Cox went to England on sick leave.

Post-war Cox returned to Australia on 13 March 1919. In 1920 he was elected to the Senate as a Nationalist representing New South Wales, a seat he held until 1938. He travelled widely through New South Wales and became well known and popular. As a senator, he took an interest in defence policy, the development of the railway system, and the construction of the new national capital in Canberra.

Cox was appointed to command the 4th Light Horse Brigade in 1920, and then the 1st Cavalry Division in 1921. In 1923 he was transferred to the retired list with the rank of honorary major general.

He died at Croydon on 20 November 1944 and was buried in the Carlingford Cemetery with full military honours.