Private Christopher Augustus Cox VC (25 December 1889 – 28 April 1959), was a British Army soldier and an English recipient of the Victoria Cross (VC) the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Early army career

Cox was born and later worked as a farm labourer in the Hertfordshire village of Kings Langley.

Victoria Cross

On 13 March 1917 at Achiet-le-Grand, France, during an attack by the battalion, the front wave was checked by very heavy artillery and machine gun fire and the whole line had to take cover in shell holes. Cox, a stretcher-bearer, went out over fire-swept ground and single-handedly rescued four men. Having collected the wounded of his own battalion he then helped to bring in the wounded of the adjoining battalion. On two subsequent days he carried out similar work with complete disregard for his own safety.

References

Bibliography

  • Kings Langley society
  • Dacorum Heritage
  • Bedfordshire Regiment
  • Christopher Cox VC (brief biography but with detailed citation and report transcriptions)