Harold Cox
1911 - warehouse assistant
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Harold was the son of Reuben Osborne and Elizabeth Cox (née Brown).
Reuben Osborne was born in Radford in 1871, the only son of Isaiah and Emma Cox (née Osborne m. 1870 Radford Christ Church). They also had six daughters, Sarah Ann Lydia birth reg. 1873 (JFM), Gertrude birth reg. 1876 (JFM), Rose birth ref. 1878 (JFM), Lydia b. 1880, Margaret b. 1883 and Lily b. 1891. With the exception of Sarah and Gertrude who were born in Derbyshire, the children were born in Radford.
Reuben and Elizabeth were married at Basford St. Leodegarius on 18 August 1894 and had three children, Harold b. 1896, Harry b. 1898 (JFM) bap. 20 July 1898 (New Radford parish church) d. 1898 (JAS) and Elsie Elizabeth Emma b. 11 April 1903.
Reuben and Elizabeth were living at 60 Independent Street, Radford, when their son Harry was baptised in 1898. The couple and their eldest son, Harold, were at the same address in 1901; Reuben was employed as a furniture remover and his wife was a lace dresser. Their daughter Elsie was born two years later.
The family had moved to 78 Independent Street by 1911; Reuben was still working for a furniture removal firm, and his son Harold was a warehouse assistant (dress and mantles).
Reuben's six unmarried sisters, Sarah (38) a plain net mender, Gertrude (35) a hosiery worker, Rose (33) and Lydia (30) lace workers, Margaret (28) a hosiery worker and Lily (21) a cardboard box maker, were living at 83 Hartley Road, Radford in 1911. Sarah was head of household.
Reuben's wife, Elizabeth, died on 2 February 1921 aged 48 and was buried in Nottingham General Cemetery on 5 February.
Reuben, a furniture remover's foreman, Elsie, a blouse machinist, and Reuben's unmarried sister, Rose Cox, a brass and bobbin winder, were living at 64 Independent Street, in 1921. It was still the family home at the time of Reuben's death at the age of 57 on 28 July 1928.
Elsie married George Fletcher (b. June 1906) at Radford Christ Church on 2 June 1934; two of the witnesses were Leonard Cree and Margery Cree (See 'Extra information'). Their daughter Patricia A. was born in 1936.
In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Elsie and her husband, a warehouse manager for a wholesale clothier and an Air Raid Warden (Div. A35), were living at 10 Lawley Avenue, Derby Road, Nottingham. The record of one member of the household remains closed but was probably that of their daughter, Patricia.
George Fletcher died in May 1969 and his widow Elsie on 16 April 1976 aged 73.
Harold seved in the 3/1st Nottinghamshire Brigade, Royal Horse Artillery.
ATerritorial Force Royal Horse Artillery battery was formed in the county in 1908.
He was killed in action on 27 August 1917 and was buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery, Belgium (grave ref. I. F. 38).
CWGC history of Bleuet Farm Cemetery (extract): the Cemetery is close to the town of Ieper [Ypres]. 'Bleuet Farm was used as a dressing station during 1917 Allied offensive on this front. The cemetery was begun in a corner of the farm and was in use from June to December 1917, though a few of the burials are of later date. Two graves were brought into the cemetery after the Armistice from isolated positions close by.' (www.cwgc.org)
CWGC Additional information: Son of Reuben Osborne Cox and Elizabeth Cox, of 64, Independent St., Radford, Nottingham.
CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'A noble life laid down'
Nottingham General Cemetery, family grave, headstone inscription: 'In ever loving memory of Elizabeth the dearly beloved wife of Reuben Osborne Cox, who died February 2nd 1921 aged 48 years. Peace perfect peace. Also of Harold son of the above who was killed in action in France, August 27th 1917 and is buried at Blanet (sic) Farm near Ypres. Duty nobly done. Also of Harry second son of the above who died in infancy. Safe in the arms of Jesus. Also of the above named Reuben Osborne Cox who died July 28th 1928 aged 57 years. Reunited.'
WW1 Pension Ledgers: named his mother, Elizabeth Cox, 64 Independent Street, Nottingham.
Registers of Soldiers' Effects: His father, Reuben Osborne, was his legatee.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 20/21 September 1917: ‘Cox. Killed in action, August 27th, Gunner Harold Cox, RHA, the dearly-beloved and only son of E and R Cox, 64, Independent-street, aged 21. A bitter blow, a shock severe, to part with one we loved so dear. Duty nobly done. From his broken-hearted mother, father, and only sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 21 September 1917: ‘Cox. Killed by a shell, August 27th, Gunner Harold Cox, RHA, aged 21. Loved by all. Thy will be done. Sorrowing aunties (19, Beech-avenue), Len [Cree] (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27/28 August 1918: ‘Cox. In loving memory of our dear son, Gnr. Harold Cox, RHA, killed in action August 27th 1917. One year has passed, our hearts still sore, as day by day we miss him more. Loving father, mother, and sister Elsie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27/28 August 1918: ‘Cox. In loving memory of our dear nephew, Gnr. Harold Cox RHA, killed in action August 27th 1917. Ever in our thoughts. Loving Aunties and Len (in France).’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27/28 August 1919: ‘Cox. In loving memory of our dear son, Gunner Harold Cox, RHA, killed in action August 27th 1917. A loving son, a brother kind, loving memories left behind. Loving father, mother and sister Elsie.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27/28 August 1919: ‘Cox. In loving memory of our dear nephew, Gunner Harold Cox, RHA, killed in action in France, August 27th, 1917. Sweet memories left behind. Loving aunties and Leonard [Cree].’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 27 August 1920: notices placed by parents and sister and ‘aunties and Leonard’.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’ 27 August 1921: notices placed by father, sister and ‘aunties and Leonard’.
Note: Harold's aunts were probably his father's six sisters, the youngest of whom, Lily, married Leonard Cree (see below).
Probate: Cox Reuben Osborne of 64 Independent-street Nottingham died 28 July 1928 Probate Nottingham 24 August to Leonard Cree manufacturer’s agent. Effects £591 6s. 9d.
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘In Memoriam’, 28 July 1930: ‘Cox. In loving memory of Reuben, who died July 28th, 1928. Fondly remembered by his daughter and sister.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Note: The sister was probably Rose Cox who was living with Reuben and his daughter Elsie in 1921.
Leonard Cree (b. 1888) was the son of John Butler and Eliza Cree (née Read m. 1870) and the seventh of eight children, the youngest of whom, Florence Gertrude (b. 1890), died in infancy. He married Lily Cox (b. 1889), the youngest sister of Reuben Osborne Cox (b. 1871), at Radford Christ Church on 4 June 1914. Leonard, a manufacturer's agent, enlisted on 8 December 1915 and was transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He was mobilised on 29 August 1916 and posted to the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport), 91051 Private. Leonard embarked Folkestone on 20 May 1917, disembarked Boulogne the following day, and joined the Base Depot (Camiers) on 21 May. He later transferred to the Machine Gun Corps (Vickers Gunner). He was discharged on 23 January 1919 from Clipstone Camp, Nottinghamshire, to 19 Beech Road, Nottingham. Leonard, Lily and their daughter Margery (1) were still living at 19 Beech Road in 1921; also in the household were three of his wife's unmarried sisters, Gertrude, Lydia and Margaret. Leonard died in 1959; probate was awarded to his nephew Eric Roger Cree (son of Wallace Roger, Leonard's older brother) and George Fletcher, who was probably the husband of Harold Cox's sister Elsie.
Additional information/record updated RF (Feb. 2026)
Harold Cox
Buried in Bleuet Farm Cemetery.
Harold Cox
Family gravestone, Nottingham General Cemetery, commemorating Harold. Photograph Rachel Farrand (February 2019).