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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 535

Pair: Private C. Cox, Army Hospital Corps

Egypt 1882-80, dated reverse, no clasp (4001 Pte. C. Cox. A.H.C.); Khedive's Star, mounted for wear, pitting and contact wear, very fine (2)

Charles Cox was born in Effingham, Leatherhead, Surry in December 1858, the son of Charlotte and George Cox. Enlisting on 29 December 1876 he listed service with the 2nd Royal Surrey Regiment of Militia upon his attestation. Posted first to the depot of the 60th Infantry Brigade he was transferred to the Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot on 31 January 1879 and appointed Private with the Army Hospital Corps. Cox received his first posting overseas on 20 February 1879 to South Africa that same year as part of the reinforcements for the medical staff, left overworked in the wake of the invasion of Zululand.

He remained in South Africa for several years, doubtless also aiding in the treatment of those wounded in the First Anglo-Boer War. Despite being present for these tumultuous events he was never present for any action and was not eligible for any campaign award, 443 medals were issued to the Army Hospital Corps at the time. Returning to Britain on 27 January 1882 he joined the staff of the Garrison Hospital at Devizes, Wiltshire.

Serving here for six months he was again posted overseas as part of the British Force assembled to defeat the rebellious Egyptian Army under Urabi Pasha. Disembarking in Egypt on 9 August 1882 he served there until 17 September 1882 when - with the bulk of the fighting concluded - he was sent to Malta. Here Cox served for another two weeks, treating casualties from the campaign before joining the Cambridge Military Hospital at Aldershot on 7 October 1882.

Re-engaging in December Cox continued to see home service before being transferred - upon the disbandment of the Army Hospital Corps - to the Medical Staff Corps as Orderly Class I. Remaining in Aldershot he was finally transferred to the Reserve on 27 June 1887 and discharged on 28 December 1888. Upon leaving the army he was employed at Banstead Lunatic Asylum, Surrey, later finding work at Netley, Portsmouth as a Sick Nurse and Dresser; sold together with copied research comprising service papers, census data and a typed biographical note as well as a C.D.

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Sold for
£140

Starting price
£110