Christopher Augustus Cox was born Christmas Day 1889 in Kings Langley. In 1912 he married Maud Swan with whom he eventually had eight children. Christopher enlisted into the army weeks after war broke out and became a Private and Stretcher Bearer in the 7th battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment.

He landed in France with the battalion in July 1915 and was wounded in the leg on the 1st July 1916 when the 7th battalion stormed not only the first two German trench lines but also took the Pommiers redoubt. Christopher was back with the battalion in time for the storming of Thiepval and the Schwaben Redoubt in September 1916 and served through the winter of 1916 / 1917.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions as described below:

"Private Christopher Augustus Cox No. 13908 For most conspicuous bravery and continuous devotion to duty when acting as a stretcher bearer. During the attack of his Battalion the front wave was stopped by the severity of enemy artillery and machine gun fire and the whole line had to take cover in shell holes to avoid annihilation. Private Cox, utterly regardless of personal safety went out and single handedly rescued four men. Having collected the wounded of his own battalion, he then assisted to bring in the wounded of the adjoining battalion. On the 2 subsequent days he carried out similar rescue work with the same disregard to his own personal safety.”

Christopher’s VC Citation

“The London Gazette” dated11th May 1917

Further information can be found on the homepage of the Bedfordshire Regiment.