Grange U3A Family and Social History Group Project on the Grange WW1 War Memorial
A short biography in commemoration of Claude Edward Lane Cox 1893-1917
Claude Edward Lane Cox Service no 288884
th th Born 6 Oct 1893- died 30 Oct 1917
Claude Edward Lane Cox was born in Southport on 6th Oct 1893. His parents were Albert Edward Cox born 1st April 1864 and Rosa Matilda Lane born 9th October 1863. Albert was born in Nottingham, trained in Medicine at Edinburgh University and became a General Practitioner. Rosa was born in Alton Berners, Wiltshire. They met when Albert was on a cycling tour and stopped at Rosa’s family home to ask for a drink of water. They were married at St Mary’s Church, Woodborough, Wiltshire, on 10th August 1892. In 1901 the family lived at 36 Hoghton Street, Southport and they had two children Claude, seven years, and Marjorie Rosa, five years, born 26th July 1895. They had a governess, a house servant and a cook. At this time the children were obviously educated at home but later went to boarding school. Another daughter, Olive Kathleen, was born 19th January 1902, but sadly, Rosa died of TB on 6th January 1907 when Claude was 13. After his mother died Claude and his sisters spent many happy summer holidays with his uncle and aunt, Frederick and Agnes Lane, at their home the Manor House in Woodborough, Wiltshire. This was the house Claude's mother had lived in as a child as it had been her parents’ house.
The wedding picture of Albert and Rosa 10th Aug 1892
On 19th October 1909 in Longton, Preston, Albert married Caroline Boardman. In 1911 the family were now living at 12a Queens Road, Southport and Claude was an apprentice lumber trader working in Liverpool (a person who brokers the buying and selling of timber) The family moved to Grange- over-Sands sometime between the latter half of 1911 to early 1912 and lived
Claude with Olive and Marjorie c1905 at Inglewood on Kents Bank Road. Albert worked as a GP in Grange and they had three more children – Desmond Charles who was born in Southport, Frederick Gordon and Ivan Trevor, both born in Grange.
Claude didn’t move to Grange with the family as he needed to be near his work in Liverpool, and was living in lodgings in May 1912 at 74 Kings Road, Bootle. However, Claude would have spent holidays and some weekends in Grange in order to spend time with his family, and he obviously thought of Grange as home. In 1913 Claude emigrated to Canada. He sailed to St. John, New Brunswick on 26th March 1913 from Liverpool on an Allan Line ship named the Hesperian, the journey taking 21 days. In the ship’s register he is noted as being 19 years old and a farmer.
Attestation paper for Claude He eventually settled in Pipestone, Manitoba, was farming there and planned to return to Canada after the war to start up his own farm. The day after war broke out he decided to volunteer to join the army. He kept trying to enlist but was refused because he was narrow chested, 1” below the minimum chest measurement. He finally passed the medical examination and in November 1916 he joined the Canadian Infantry Regiment 78th Battalion as a private, was stationed at Minto Barracks, Winnipeg, Manitoba and later joined the 221 Battalion Canadian Expeditionary Force (see Attestation above)..
Minto Barracks, Winnipeg
The expeditionary force sailed to Britain in April 1917 and his troopship Ausonia was nearly torpedoed crossing the Atlantic. He was stationed in Kent for a while during which time he managed to visit his family in Grange (see Claude’s letters). He served five months in France and Belgium before he was killed in action while going forward to repel a counter-attack on Passchendaele Ridge on 30th October 1917 (see obituary). His body was not found for burial and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres Belgium panel 24- 26-28-30 and on the Grange War Memorial.
Obituary from the local Canadian paper The siblings he left behind.
Claude’s sisters Marjorie and Olive c 1913*
*The picture above was taken c1913 when Claude emigrated to Canada Claude's sister Marjorie Rosa (26.7.1895-25.12.1985) was two years younger than him. She had left home about 1915, obtained a B.A., and enrolled on a government-sponsored scheme which trained teachers provided they agreed to work for three years in Canada. In a letter Claude refers to planning to meet up with her in London on 22 May 1917 on his way to Grange on leave from his further army training in England. Marjorie arrived in Canada on 26 December 1919, later moving to America, marrying and bringing up a family there, and continuing to teach.
Claude's sister Olive Kathleen (19.1.1902-11.9.1990) was eight years younger than him. She left boarding school in Southport in 1918 or 1919, and returned to the family home in Grange. She lived at home and helped to look after her three very young half-brothers, but was keen to travel. In about 1924 she met a married couple who liked to visit Grange: an English lady and a Dutch businessman; she was taken on as a companion to the lady. For four years she lived the life of the rich, going to Switzerland every winter and to Paris every autumn, and travelling with the family in Europe. In 1928 she returned to England and did a secretarial course in London
Claude’s half brothers about 1918
. She met her future husband, Ronald Thompson, on the Grange golf course, and married him in 1930. His parents owned a brewery and hotel business in Barrow-in-Furness, but lived in Kents Bank. Later on in the 1930s, Ronald's parents moved into Fairhaven, Kents Bank. Olive and Ronald settled in Berkshire, and brought up their son there.
Claude hardly knew his half-brothers, Desmond Charles (27.5.1911-11.2.1998), Frederick Gordon (known as Gordon) (8.6.1914-18.5.2005) and Ivan Trevor (11.9.1915-6.1990). When Claude emigrated to Canada in 1913 Desmond was nearly two, and Gordon and Ivan had not been born. Claude did not see his family again until May 1917 when he came over from Canada to fight and had leave from his army training. At that time Desmond would be nearly six, Gordon nearly three and Ivan twenty months. Desmond remembered Claude visiting Inglewood in his uniform.
. The father and stepmother he left behind, and their life in Grange
Dr Albert Edward Cox Caroline Cox, Claude’s stepmother
After Claude's death, his father Albert continued to live and practise as a family doctor and surgeon from Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, sometimes doing operations at home, assisted by his wife Caroline (Carrie). Albert was a gentle, quiet man. Albert owned one of first cars in Grange which he used to visit patients. He had a garage high up at the back left of the Inglewood back garden, accessed from Fernleigh Road. (In the 1980s the garage was pulled down and a house built there.)
The Cox family were friendly with the Townley family who lived at Hazel Bank, Windermere Road. Beatrix Potter used to visit the Townleys, and dedicated her 1913 book "The Tale of Pigling Bland" to the Townley children, Cecily and Charlie. On occasions, when visiting the Townleys, Claude's half brothers would have stories read to them by Beatrix.
Both back and front gardens of Inglewood were steep, so unsuitable for children to play in. However, immediately opposite there was another garden which belonged to Dr Cox and was completely flat, at the junction of Kents Bank Road and The Esplanade. This is where the children would play, and the maid would cross Kents Bank Road with the tea trolley. After the children grew up Dr Cox gave this garden to the town and it became known as Cox's Corner
Inglewood, Kents Bank Road 1912-1932
.
Eller Mount, Methven Road 1932-1937
In 1933 Albert retired and rented out Inglewood on a long lease to Dr. L. Hardman on 25 September. The family moved to Eller Mount, Methven Road in 1937. They then leased out Eller Mount and moved to 30 Greyhound Hill, Hendon, London, N.W.4. It is not known why they decided to move there; it may have been because their son Desmond had gone to London to study and re-train in a new career, and Desmond did move in with them. Desmond had previously trained as a stained-glass artist at Shrigley and Hunt in Lancaster, but had to leave that job when demand for memorial windows to the fallen of the first world war dropped in the early 1930s. He did try working on his own account, having a studio in Grange and living with his parents, but could not make a living out of it, so he decided to re-train as a civil engineer in London.
In 1940, due to the bombing in London during the Second World War, Albert and Caroline did not often stay at their Hendon home, instead staying with relations out of London. They wanted to move back to Grange but could not as their two properties there were leased out on long leases. They visited Grange in October 1940, staying at the Belvedere Hotel, The Esplanade, where Albert died a few days later on 22 October, age 76. Caroline stayed at the hotel in Grange for a few months, then went to live with relations. Once the lease had expired on Inglewood, probably in 1943, Caroline, then age 55, moved back into the house she loved. In 1947 she had the ground floor converted into a separate flat to be rented out. She then lived herself on the first floor, keeping the second floor for her visitors. Both the front and back gardens were steep, and she did the gardening herself. She loved Inglewood, with the view of the bay and the sun pouring in the front windows. She liked to go down to the promenade to sit in a deckchair and listen to the band playing.
She continued to live alone at Inglewood until she was 91, with minimal help, although she did move downstairs into the ground floor flat when she was 81. She was a very determined lady with a strong character and high standards, and was always smartly dressed. She was a well-known personality in Grange. After a fall, she spent the last year of her life happy and well cared for by the nuns of Boarbank Hall just outside Grange, dying there on 14 September 1980, age 92, having been widowed for 40 years.
Albert and Caroline are both buried in their beloved Grange-over-Sands, at Grange Fell Cemetery.
We are grateful to the family of Claude Cox who have given us transcriptions of Claude's letters, copies of family photos and further information about the family. So our thanks are due to Richard Thompson, Australia, whose mother Olive was the recipient of most of the letters still existing from her brother Claude; and also to Diana Glew (nee Cox), daughter of Desmond Cox who was Claude's very much younger half-brother and the "wee Desmond" referred to by Claude in his letters home.
Jan Tomlinson July 2018
Letters written by Claude to his family 1914-1917
When Claude left for Canada he wrote many letters to his family. The letters printed below were mostly written to Olive. They clearly show a man who was a very loving brother and son. Claude was conscious of the distance between him and his family brought about by his leaving Britain, and took great pains to keep in touch.
Transcript of letter on headed paper from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 12), Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 2 April 1914. NB The "Visiter" is a Southport magazine.
Talbot Farm (crossed out) Miniota Manitoba
2 April 14
My Dearest Olive
Thank you ever so much for those fine letters of yours that come so often and so regularly to cheer up a fellow when he is feeling a bit lonely.
Your letter and The Times Weekly have been the part object of many a twelve mile drive and back, and it is not often that it has been made without them being found waiting for me at the Post Office.
I am enclosing a money order for sixty-five cents, which you will be able to cash at the Grange post office for about 2/6. This is to buy yourself some Easter eggs with and have a little extra pocket money in the holidays.
Your writing and spelling have come on a lot, and show lots of improvement. I was greatly interested in Desmond's first attempt at writing.
The snow has nearly gone away now, but the weather is still cold. We should be able to make a start on the land in about a fortnight.
I hope to be able to send you several snapshots before long - they have not been developed yet.
Will you ask Marjorie to send me the "Visiter" that contains the account of Hilda Barrett's wedding and also Florence Gaskell's.
I expect that signs of Spring are already visible in your parts, and the Lakes beginning to look well.
Please give my love to all and
Believe me, Your loving brother Claude xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx xxxxxxxx Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age just 13), Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 19 January 1915.
NB Douglas and Leslie are cousins of Claude's, sons of his father's late brother Arthur Cox.
Note new address:- Willen Manitoba Canada 19 Jan 1915
My dearest Olive
I am enclosing a little present for your birthday - with my best love and good wishes. It will arrive rather late but will come in the handier for that if you are about through with your Xmas money.
As there is still no word of the 12th Royal Manitoba Drgns. being called up, I wrote down to Virden offering to transfer to any regiment going with the 3rd Contingent. I am expecting a reply in a day or so. I am rather afraid that I may possibly be turned down when medically examined as I am 1" below the standard chest measurement required here. If I were in England I would have no trouble at all, but they are only sending picked men of 1st class physique from Canada. If I am turned down I shall return to England later on and enlist in Liverpool.
I was glad to receive your letter and Marjorie's. I did not get any letters at Xmas but heard from Mrs Williamson and Blanche Hughes at New Year, and have since heard from Aunty Ada Chandler, Aunty Kathleen and Phyllis Cox.
You don't need to send Irene anything for her wedding as I have sent her something from the three of us. I think that she is getting a good man alright, but I don't think that he will make a fortune for her.
I have been trying to get Douglas out of the hole and have been having a worrying time with his creditors. I'm afraid that he will have to go under.
A new railway line was laid down near here last year, and it is now only three miles to the nearest station, Willen. A post office has been started, so it is not far to go for the mail and quite a change from driving 12 miles to Miniota.
I had a pretty good Xmas dinner - which was a surprise present from a friend. Roast duck, roast potatoes, plum pudding, a cake, a pie and some sauce. They drove over with it all ready cooked and hot. Another neighbour also sent me a plum pudding and a brace of partridge which I cooked for New Year.
You will remember Leslie, I guess, - he was staying at Gledhow when you were there. He enlisted as a private early on, and is somewhere in Surrey I think.
Please give my best love to Father, Carrie and Desmond - tho' I'm afraid the latter gentleman will hardly know who I am.
With heaps of love and kisses Believe me xxxxxx Always your loving Claude Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 13), Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 4 April 1915.
NB The horses weigh 1550 lbs (pounds) each, which is 110 stone 10 lbs (pounds), or 703.07kg Claude weighs, clothed, 136 lbs (pounds), which is 9 stone 10 lbs (pounds), or 61.68kg Aunty Ada is his late mother Rosa's sister, and is married to Alfred Chandler, Claude's Uncle Alfred. Uncle Cecil is his late mother's brother, Cecil Lane, and Grandpa is his late mother's father, Ebenezer Lane of Woodborough, Wiltshire c/o G. Menzies, Esq Pipestone Manitoba Canada 4. Apl. 1915
My dearest Olive
Thanks so much for your last letter which was forwarded to me from Willen. I was sorry to read that you and Desmond had bad colds.
This is the last day of the Canadian winter. The snow has gone away and the ground sufficiently thawed out for us to start work on the land again - which we are doing tomorrow.
This means getting up at 4-30 am instead of 6 am, which is rising time in the winter, altho' of course on some farms they lie in later. The four horses that I drive on the various implements are about the finest team I have seen in this country. All were prize winners at the big Brandon fair.
They are feeling pretty good just now - standing in all the winter, and take some handling. They weigh about 1550 apiece - a handy size for farm work.
I had a letter from Aunty Ada a few days ago. They have given up Seagry again, and are living in a hotel in London. Uncle Alfred is doing Harold's work at the Notting Hill Brewery. Uncle Cecil and Rita are living with Grandpa now.
The Indian reserve is just next to this farm and we see a lot of them. They are lazy people for anything but hunting and fishing. The government is good in making provision for them. Most of the men can speak broken English, but not the squaws or papooses (children). They have quaint names such as Big Chaski, John Thunder, Sitting Eagle, Sam High-Eagle, Charlie Chusky, John Shot-both-sides, etc. The squaw of Sitting Eagle is making me a pair of moccasins out of buckskin and beadwork on the top of the soles, which I shall send you to wear when I get them, - but it may be some time as one cannot rely on them. They will wear a lifetime and make good house shoes for you.
I am feeling well but do not put on weight. I only weigh 136 - clothed.
Must close now - with best love to Father, Carrie and the babies
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age nearly 14), Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 30 December 1915.
30 Dec. 1915 c/o G. Menzies, Esq Pipestone Manitoba Canada
My Dearest Olive
Very many happy returns of your birthday. At last I am able to send you the long promised moccasins. I hope they will both fit and please you. This pair - of moose hide, was made by the squaw of one Sitting Eagle, an Indian of the Cree tribe of the Griswold reserve Manitoba. The moose hide from which they are made was shot in the Riding Mts. This is a plain pair compared with some they make, but I was fortunate in getting these as it is only when they are in desperate need of a few dollars that they will make them for a white man. They cannot be bought in stores - that is genuine ones, altho' the Hudson Bay company sometimes get a few.
I received your letter yesterday and was so glad to hear that you are to go to Brentwood this next term. I think it is splendid of Father to manage this. You must work your best and try and get on well with your education. I am not sending you any money for your birthday this time, but will send you some later for pocket money when you go to Brentwood. Please say the date you start.
I also received a letter from Marjorie. She seems to be happy and I hope she will get on well.
Irene wrote to me at Xmas and sent a photo of her house. Mr Crook intends trying for a commission in February but I would think it is doubtful if he gets one, - his sight is poor.
Twice since last March I have tried to be enlisted, but each time have been turned down for being too narrow in the chest. It is a bitter pill to swallow - I shall never get the taste of it out of my mouth. The rot of it is that I am in every way so fit and strong. My hand is quite better but I am unable to milk yet, the fingers being too stiff.
Well I must close now with heaps of love and kisses to you all. I was looking over your letters this evening and find that since I have been in this country you have written me no less than sixty one letters. Your writing and spelling are first rate now and do you credit for your age.
With much love and best wishes for your birthday,
I remain, Your loving brother, Claude xxxxx xxxxx
Thank wee Desmond for his Xmas card - a very pretty one. I hope you got him a nice present.
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 14), boarding at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, 7 September 1916.
c/o G. Menzies, Esq. Pipestone Manitoba Canada 7 Sept. 1916
My dearest Olive,
Thanks so much for your letter. I was sorry to read that you have had the mumps. You have indeed been unfortunate in being on the sick list during the holidays. However, no doubt you made good use of the remaining months and return to Brentwood feeling fit, ready for work.
Enclosed please find money order value four dollars, payable to you at Southport G.P.O. This will give you about 16/4 for pocket money. If you want more - or need money for anything you must let me know.
I hope you get the 'Nor' West Farmer' all right. I send it regularly every fortnight.
No doubt Father would tell you that I have passed the medical examination at last, and will be joining my regiment on 19th November.
If I get through this war alright I hope to bring you back to Canada with me.
It is likely that I should be in England about next May, for a couple of months, before proceeding to France, so we shall see each other again and have a great old chin wag.
We are very busy just now with the crop and will be threshing in a few days. The wheat crop in Canada is very poor this year, but oats and barley are up to the average.
With much love, and please remember me to Aunty Kathleen and Uncle Jack.
Your loving brother, C.E.L. Cox
Transcript of document from Claude Cox, 8 October 1916, folded and with pin marks in it; presumably this document was found inside a case of Claude's possessions after his death.
Pipestone Manitoba Canada 8 Octr. 1916
I wish, that in the event of my decease, the contents of this case, which are photographs, letters, a bible, prayer book, and several other articles, shall be divided equally between my sisters, Marjorie and Olive, as they can arrange between themselves.
I wish also that the books, papers, etc, contained in two boxes in safe keeping with Aunty Kathleen, shall also be divided equally between Marjorie and Olive, as they can arrange between themselves.
I wish Marjorie to have my Silver Christening Cup, Silver Fruit Dish and Silver Spoon.
I wish Olive to have my Gold Ring (left to me by Mother), my Silver Sports Cup and medal, and Framed Portrait of Grandpa Lane.
The Christening Cup, Dish and Spoon, Sports Cup and medal are in the boxes at Aunty Kathleen's.
The ring and portrait are in safe keeping with Father.
In respect of such money or other property that I shall inherit from my Mother, I have made a will, in the keeping of Uncle Jack, leaving everything to Marjorie and Olive in equal shares.
I would like a record of my death to be inscribed on Mother's grave, whether I happen to be buried there or not.
Claude Edward Lane Cox
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to sister Olive (age 14), boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, undated. In Claude's letter of 19 September 1916 he said he would be joining the regiment on 19 November 1916 and, given that he wrote regularly to his sister, this letter was probably written at the end of November 1916. note address carefully 288884 Pte. C.E.L. Cox C. Co. 9 Platoon 221st Batt. Inf. Minto Barracks Winnipeg Canada
Dearest Olive,
I guess you will be wondering how I am getting along in the army. Well, so far all right. The drill comes a little awkward at first of course, but I practise as much as possible in my own time and the boys are good in helping me to get right on to the job.
There are about 400 foreigners in the battn. I should think that there is hardly any country that is not represented. Of course they have all lived in the country for some years and can speak our language.
I am fortunate in being posted in a platoon that is entirely British. There are 19 men in our room, all Scotsmen but 2, for which I am glad as I have found since coming to this country that Scotsmen are the best and cleanest to live along with. I have been served with a full equipment of clothes, arms and accoutrements. These are fine barracks, very large and well heated.
Of course, everything and everyone is as rough as is made, but it doesn't worry me any - being pretty tough myself now. I take my turn at everything, besides the drill and training - such as scrubbing floors, dishing out the mess, washing dishes, windows, stoking furnaces, in fact every darned thing at all that has to be done. Coming off a farm the life is easy enough.
I was on a route march of 20 miles yesterday with rifle and 60 lbs of a pack on my back. I was as fit as anything at the end where some men of 9 months training were played out with sore feet or back. The food is rough but lots of it. Everything goes on the one plate. It seemed like threshing time to be sleeping on the floor again, but I can sleep without trouble any old place.
My uniform fits dandy - the Canadian outfit is better than the English.
I look forward to your letters greatly - I don't know a darned soul in Winnipeg, but of course that doesn't matter much, altho' it is nice to have a place to visit sometimes.
Send this letter on to Grange so they will know I am all right. I hate writing the same dope over again.
With heaps of love and kisses Your loving bro C.E.L. Cox
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 15), boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, 23 January 1917.
On headed paper: YMCA CANADA ON ACTIVE SERVICE FOR GOD FOR KING AND FOR COUNTRY WITH THE CANADIAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE 288884 C Co 9 Platoon 221st Battn. Inf. Minto Barracks Winnipeg
23 Jan. 1917
My dearest Olive
I have just received your letter and Desmond's, and as you mention that you will be returning to school shortly I am enclosing a four spot to help you out with pocket money.
You must take care of yourself this term and keep off the sick parade.
I am still keeping jake, and spending a rare old time this winter. Of course we get lots off drill and fatigue, but all kinds of amusement in the way of dancing, boxing, sports and concerts. There are 18 of us in our room and a dandy bunch of men they are. I expect to be running for the 221st in the Winnigeg Garrison Sports next week.
You people all ask if I should try for a commission. Not for this fellow. The ranks are good enough for me, and it is in the ranks that I am resolved to go through with this.
I sent you a couple more brooches for your birthday. No doubt they will be forwarded.
I received letters from Uncle Sam, Cecil, Aunty Kathleen, Irene, Uncle Jack, Phyllis Cox, Mr Williamson and Mr Chris Day this Xmas so I have quite a bunch to answer.
Trusting you are keeping well,
I am, your loving brother C.E.L. Cox xxxxxx
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 15), boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, 6 March 1917.
NB 'spondulix' means spending money, 'chew the rag' means chat, 'W'peg' means Winnipeg. Aunty Kathleen and Uncle Jack: This is a reference to Claude's late mother Rosa's sister, Annie Kathleen, who is married to John (known as Jack) Heald, solicitor in Southport.
Lce.Cpl. C.E.L. Cox 221st Bn.Inf. St. Roch's Hospital St. Boniface, Man., Canada 6. Mar.1917
Dearest Olive
I was so glad to receive your letter yesterday, and to know that you are well, and enjoying yourself at the skating. Glad also to know that you got the badges and spondulix.
I have been here for a week now, supposed to have the measles, and expecting to get out sometime this week.
It is a Roman Catholic hospital - run by nuns, and they are very kind and look after us well. In this ward there are 12 men, 4 from the 221st, 4 from 174th Camerons, 1 from 190th Inf., 1 from A.S. Corps, and 2 from R.A.M.C. We are making the best of things and chew the rag and smoke and play cards all day to pass the time.
I have had about 7 dollars worth of fruit and magazines from my pals since I came in. When I get back to barracks I will be sending you a couple of photos to keep for me. One is of C company, the other is of Room 26 (where I sleep). A while back the Colonel took the notion to say that our room had been the best and cleanest in barracks for the past three months, and he wished to have a photo taken of it and put in the papers for recruiting purposes.
I was on the guard of honour picked for the Governor General (100 of us and 3 officers) . The people in W'peg don't think much of the Duke of Devonshire - he is a sloppy looking guy after the Duke of Connaught.
There is no word yet when we are coming over - I hope it won't be long now.
Take care of yourself and please give my love to Aunty Kathleen and Uncle Jack.
Send letters to the barracks as usual. I will be back there soon. Your letters take nearly a month to come.
With heaps of love I am Your loving brother C.E.L. Cox xxxxx xxxxx
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive, age 15, boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, undated, but must be May 1917, probably 3rd. 288884 Pte. C.E.L. Cox F Company Squad 39 11th Res. Battn. Inf. Canadians St Martin's Plain Shorncliffe Kent.
My dearest Olive
We arrived in L'pool on board troopship Ausonia at midnight 29April (Sunday) and were entrained at once for camp, which we reached at 9.30 next morning.
Our voyage had some thrill in it.
Two days out of port we picked up two boat loads of survivors from a ship that had been torpedoed 6 hours previously.
The same night we were ourselves attacked by submarines at around 10 pm. Once our ship had to make such a sudden turn to avoid a torpedo that we collided with our only escort, a small destroyer and damaged her. However, we got away and reached harbour without further molestation. Unfortunately our company was quartered down in the cargo hold, which is about twice as bad as steerage The air was rank enough to put a match out. I was not sick much and did not miss a meal.
Our journey took 21 days on train and water.
All our battalion has been split up and the N.C.O.'s reduced to the ranks again. I am now in a battalion that supplies the reinforcements to 3 battalions in France.
I have passed the doctors as fit for the trenches and been inoculated today against trench fever.
We are given to understand that it will not be long before we are sent over - probably about 8 weeks time. They are working the dickens out of us to rush us thro' the training as soon as possible as men are wanted badly.
I don't know when I will get leave, but will let you know. We only get 6 days.
I shall go to Grange and if you are not there will spend 3 days of the time in Southport and get Miss Briggs to give you 3 days holiday. I will try and meet Marjorie at the station in London on my way up.
I sent Marjorie money before leaving Canada so when you are short you must write to her for it. I have told her to give you whatever you need for pocket money.
We are in tents at present and are moving into huts next week.
Please tell Aunty Kathleen I am here. with heaps of love Your loving bro. Claude Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 15), boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, 12 May 1917.
Hut 11 288884 Lce. Cpl. C.E.L. Cox F Coy Squad 29 11th Res.Battn. Inf. Canadians St Martin's Plain Shorncliffe. Sat. 12.V.17
Dearest Olive
Thanks for your two letters.
I expect to get 4 days leave on Monday 22nd if nothing happens to prevent it. I have arranged with Father to send him a wire when I know for certain, and he will wire Miss Briggs to send you home. So you want to be ready to go home on Monday the 22nd. I am afraid this will be the only leave I shall get. We expect to be sent to France at the end of next month and they are rushing us through the training.
If you happen to be ill, or anything prevents you from going home you can be sure that I will go straight to Southport from Grange.
I am taking a Canadian friend home with me.
I will bring you a badge of my new regiment. I am still a lce.cpl. We are in huts now - 29 men to each hut. General Turner is inspecting us tomorrow.
With much love I am Your loving brother C.E.L. Cox
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his father, Dr Albert Cox, Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 17 June1917.
On headed paper: Y.M.C.A. On Active Service WITH THE BRITISH EXPEDITIONARY FORCE Sunday 17 June 1917 My dear Father
We have put in a week's hard training here, and expect to be going to the trenches in a day or so. I guess my "baptism of fire" will have occurred before this time next Sunday. The heat has been, and still remains very great, and is one of the minor trials of the war at present. My steel helmet becomes almost too hot to touch in the middle of the day !
Yesterday afternoon was our cleaning up period, and having washed our clothes, we were paraded down to the river for a bath, which I enjoyed very much. We don't have to polish at all now; and the action of the various poisonous gas I have been through has turned my buttons black.
I have been sleeping out in the open this week, with just a greatcoat over me and a ground sheet underneath. The tents, being crowded, are stuffy in hot weather. I walked to a little village this afternoon, and had a little of the French wine.
None of us have received any letters since coming, but no doubt they are held up somewhere and we shall get them later.
Kilfoyle has not received a single letter since he left Canada, altho' he is of course certain that his aunt and brother must have written a number of times. I will always be very glad of letters, however short, as often as you or Carrie can find time. They are practically all that one has to look forward to out here.
There are a lot of New Zealand men here and Australians, at quarters nearby, also Imperial troops from Lancs and Yorkshire.
I should perhaps mention that if it should become necessary at any time for you to make any enquiries about me, you will require to write to:- The Canadian Pay and Record Office 7 Millbank, London S.W.
I will make a point of writing every week anyway.
I have not seen a paper since leaving England but "The Times Weekly" will be on its way.
Please forward my letters to Marjorie and Olive, as I have not always time for three letters.
With much love to you all, and kind regards from Kil
I am Your loving son C.E.L. Cox 288884 78th Battn. Inf. Canadians France Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his sister Olive (age 15), boarder at Brentwood School, Southport, Lancashire, on 14 September1917.
On headed paper: YMCA AND CANADIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION WITH THE CANADIAN FORCES
France Same adress 14 Sept 1917
My Dearest Olive
Thank you so much for your many letters. I am still keeping well though just recently have been troubled with my stomach, but am alright again now
Kil is still our of sorts. I think he must have got a touch of gas last time we were in. It sometimes does not affect one much until later. He was overjoyed to get Mother's parcel and I was able to sample the good things inside. I think he wrote to her a couple of days ago.
The captain of our company offered me a job in the officers' mess, to do the catering, etc. It was practically a "bomb-proof job" and would be a jake one for the winter. But I have come to try and cater for Huns, not for our officers, so I did not take it.
I want you please to send one of those half dozen photos of mine that came to you from Winnipeg to the following address: Miss Margaret McAdam, Stonewall, Manitoba, Canada.
I was interested to read in Marjorie's letter about the little cottage in Gummer's How. I am sure you must have spent a happy time there and it will be so nice for the youngsters.
It is very difficult for me to send badges over but I hope to get them through some time if possible.
In one of your letters you mentioned that Aunty Kathleen wrote for my address to send me a parcel again. If she should happen to mention it, you might say that I did not receive it.
Well dear, I must close down, trusting you are in the best of health and that all are likewise.
With heaps of love to all,
I am, Your loving brother C.E.L. Cox
Transcript of letter from Claude Cox to his father, Dr Albert Cox, Inglewood, Kents Bank Road, Grange-over-Sands, Lancashire, 2l September 1917.
On headed paper: YMCA AND CANADIAN WAR CONTINGENT ASSOCIATION WITH THE CANADIAN FORCES same address France 21 Sept. 1917
My dear Father
Thank you all very much for your letters and the fine parcel - which as usual arrived in perfect condition yesterday. The cake was beautiful and fresh and I enjoyed it immensely. I generally pass a wee sample of it to a pal or so and I can assure you that Carries's cooking is voted the best that finds its way into No. 4 platoon. Thanks also for the iodine, etc. which will be invaluable to me. I will let you know concerning the merits of the healing dope in a few days.
Our last time trip up the line was much shorter, but we had a hot time of it while it lasted. Fritz is a 'live wire' where artillery is concerned but I don't think he has anything on our boys in that direction.
Kil is a good deal better in health. I saw him again today.
My fitness for anything still stays with me. It is a curious thing that I always have felt in best shape when up the line. Rest seems to be coincident with a kind of reaction, and I am troubled with my bowels and indigestion and feel dopey in general.
Three days ago I was partially buried by earth thrown by a shell bursting over the parade very close to me. The concussion knocked me down but no harm was done. That is the second time that I have had that happen. Our battalion has had it comparatively easy lately.
Thanks to fortune we have a splendid officer in command of our platoon, a Mr. Weldon - as cool a head and as bold as ever stepped. Our old sergt Nairne has left us, being ill, and we don't think nearly as much of his successor, but we have a good lance corporal. The nights are getting colder now but one doesn't mind that so long as the rain keeps off.
I received a nice parcel from Aunty Kathleen containing a large tin of biscuits, tinned food and some fresh tomatoes and eggs. The two latter things were quite spoiled and would have ruined the rest of the contents if it had not been tinned stuff. Your apples have a good flavour.
The Germans are sending over a lot of poisonous gas. Our masks are absolute precaution against asphyxiation if adjusted quick enough, but their latest gas causes the body to break out with sores.
Well Father I must close down now with much love to all, trusting everyone is well.
I am, Your loving son, C.E.L. Cox
Please let Olive and Marjorie have the letter if they are away.