Charles Sutton Cox was born at 24 Wisbeach St, Balmain in July 1895, the fifth child of Harry Cox and Charlotte Annie nee Llewellen. Charles had two older sisters, Alice and Charlotte, two older brothers, Harry and Bill, and two younger brothers, Walter and Ron. Charles’ father was a builder and Mayor of Balmain from 1902 – 1903.
Charles was a keen sailor and one of the founders of the Birchgrove Sailing Club; a Sunday school teacher at St John’s Church of England, North Balmain, a member of the church choir (he had a very good singing voice), and manager of the Boy’s Association. He was a salesman with Basche & Lowney (butter merchants). At the age of 20, Charles enlisted for service abroad in the Australian Imperial Forces on June 1st 1916. Because he was not yet 21, his parents had to sign a form to say they gave their consent. Three months later, on the 25th of September, he set sail on the “Ascanius” for England via Devonport.
Charles arrived in England on the 29th December 1916 – a freezing and bitter cold time to arrive. He left safe shores for France on the 25th February on board the paddle steamer, “Golden Eagle”.
On the 3rd of March 1917, Charles became part of the 19th Battalion. The battalion had already taken part in the blood bath at Gallipoli and was now on the Western Front in France. Each battalion selected certain men for the role of stretcher-bearers. Most probably Charles volunteered because “he was a lover of peace”.
C. E. W. Bean, Australian Historian of WW1 had this to say about stretcher-bearers:
“I dare say that in the long run a good many of those who did become stretcher-bearers … did volunteer for it because they were that kind of man, who deep in their hearts preferred being killed to killing (though they certainly wouldn’t talk of their opinion) and that it had a good deal to do with their reputation … the stretcher-bearers, ambulance and regimental, were determined that come what might, they would show themselves as ready to stake their lives on doing their job as were any fighting men.”
It is probably impossible to imagine the terrifying and horrific dangers that Charles faced as he went out again and again through the battles of 1917. The battalion was involved in the attack on German forces after their retreat to the Hindenburg Line and was in the thick of the danger at the Second Battle of Bullecourt from the 3rd – 17th May.
On the 20th of September, during the Battle of Menin Road, it appears he was sheltering in a captured German pillbox and was badly wounded in both thighs, arm and hand by a shell. He was carried to an aid post and from there sent to the Canadian Clearing Station where he died of his wounds the next day.
Back in Sydney, the family received the news they had been dreading. His sister, Charlotte, gave birth to a baby boy a few weeks later on the 11th of October 1917. The baby (who grew up to be my father) was named after his uncle – Charles Sutton Cox Hannah. The baby was christened at St John’s and, when old enough to appreciate them, was given his Bible, war medals, cuff links, and the camera which had been returned from France, with his belongings.
Charles Sutton Cox’s mother, a long time and respected member of St John’s, Balmain, contributed in many generous ways to the church. After her son was killed in WW1 she donated a handsome oak pulpit, from which Parish priests and visitors have delivered their many sermons. On June 21st, 1925 a memorial service was held for Charles Cox and Charles Gooud, his friend from sailing and choir days.
Thanks to Charlotte Samiec (nee Hannah) for this contribution
Charlotte originally wrote this story for the Discovering Anzacs series at the Australian National Archives
June 2021
