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Auction: 25112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 522

Four: Private M. R. Cox, 2/26th Australian Infantry Battalion, who was taken prisoner of war during the Fall of Singapore

1939-1945 Star; Pacific Star; War Medal 1939-45; Australia Service Medal 1939-45, all officially impressed 'QX17519', sold together with an annotated photograph album, good very fine (4)

Malcom Richard Cox was born at Childers, Queensland on 22 April 1902, working as a Banana Farmer prior to attestation at Kelvin Grove, Brisbane on 30 July 1940. He was transferred to the 2/26th Battalion on 21 December 1940 and posted to Malaya on 30 July 1941. Here the Battalion was part of 'Westforce' assigned to defend Mersing.

They fought quite successfully there, however, the overall failure of the British position saw them fall back towards the Fortress of Singapore. Taking positions initially by the Causeway they suffered heavy losses to Japanese air and artillery attack. Falling back they continued to fight for another week however they suffered serious losses and when General Percival surrendered the island, the 2/26th Battalion went 'into the bag' with the rest on 15 February 1942.

They were largely taken to Changi prison in Malaya initially however it is not clear whether Cox was taken to Burma for work upon the railway. A cribbage board held by the Australian War Memorial was carved by Cox at Changi, he was liberated from that prisoner on 5 September 1945. Returning to Australia on 7 October 1945 he died on 6 September 1980; sold together with copied research, two price lists for food at Changi camp and a photograph album named to the recipient contain 48 images.

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Sold for
£500

Starting price
£210