First World War Commonwealth War Grave - Sapper Charles Edward Cox, Royal Engineers - Maidenhead Station Ticket Collector

 

 

"They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them".

 

 



Charles Edward (known as Charlie to his family) Cox was born on 3rd October 1891 in Middleton, Ireland to Charles Edwards Cox Snr, a retired Army Lance Sergeant and postmaster, and his wife Elizabeth Stacey. 

Charles's little sister Ada Agnes was born on 24th December 1892 but sadly passed away on 10th June 1893 aged just five months. A little brother Thomas Henry was born in the spring of 1895 but sadly he too was to pass away, aged just 6 weeks old in the May of 1895. Charles Edward Snr and Elizabeth had no further children together.

In 1901 Charles Edward was residing at Oxford Wood Barracks with his mother and father.  On 14th July 1906 Charles entered the employ of the Great Western Railway, Swindon Division as a Shed Boy,  resigning the position on 1st March 1907

The 1911 Census finds Charles lodging at the house of Albert Rippington in Compton, Berkshire, where Charles is working as a railway porter for the Great Western Railway.

In 1915 in Maidenhead Berkshire Charles Edward Cox married Elsie Elizabeth May Groves, before moving into her family's home at 27 Grenfell Place Maidenhead. Later the couple moved to 29 Grenfell Place, Maidenhead, Berkshire.

Charles served with the Royal Engineers as a Sapper, a soldier who performs a variety of military engineering duties such as bridge-building, laying or clearing minefields, demolitions, field defences and general construction.

27 Grenfell Place, Maidenhead,
Berkshire.

On 29th February 1920 Charles died of influenza, acute pneumonia, and heart failure at his home, 29 Grenfell Place, aged just 28 years old. Elsie was refused his war pension as the disease he died from was contracted after he was discharged from the Royal Engineers at the end of the war.

On 10th March 1920 the Maidenhead Advertiser reported:

"Two Funerals for Railwaymen.

Two very impressive funerals took place last week, each being that of a member of the staff at Maidenhead G.W.R. Station.

The second funeral was that of Ticket-Collector Charles Edward Cox, of Grenfell-place, who passed away after only a few days' suffering from pneumonia, following influenza. He had been about 13 years in the company's service, and the last eight years were spent at Maidenhead. He had only been released from the Colours about three months, after having served some three years in the R.E.s' in France.  The funeral took place at All Saints' Church on Thursday, the Rev. J. F. S. Russell officiating. In this case also, about forty of the deceased's colleagues from Maidenhead and neighbouring stations attended to pay a last mark of respect. Four of his late comrades acted as bearers, namely, Ticket Collectors Cook and Hall, and Porter Ball, and Lampman Ramsey. Mr. Wills, the station master, was represented by Messrs. Fletcher, Calcott, and Jacques, of the office staff.

The mourners were, Mrs. C. E. Cox (widow), Mfr. and Mrs. Cox (father and mother), Mr. G. W. Groves (father-in-law). Mrs. Eason (aunt), Mr. and Mrs. G Groves, Mr. and Mrs. J Wheeler, Miss. D Groves, Mr. A Groves, Mr. T Wheeler, and Mr. F Groves, (brothers and sister-in-law), Mr. Bowyer (friend)." 

The now widowed Elsie can be found on the 1921 Census living with her father George Groves, and siblings Arthur Groves, and Daisy Groves, at 27 Grenfell Place. Elsie never remarried and passed away on 27 July 1973 at her home, 184 Cookham Road, Maidenhead.

Charles's father also re-enlisted to fight for his country in 1914 at the age of 49.  He was later discharged as not being fit for any military action due to rheumatism in his wrists, elbows, back and hips.