Brigadier Geoffrey Souter Cox

Service number 2/75619, NX8576
Ranks Held Captain, Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, Brigadier
Birth Date 1914-12-04
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Bondi
Death Date 1964-11-16
Death Place Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank Brigadier
Service Australian Army
Units
  • 2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places
Conflicts/Operations
  • Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960
  • Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1945-09-27
Published in London Gazette in 1943-08-19
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1943-07-22
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-09-20

Collection items

    Media


    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LIEUTENANT-COLONEL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LT-COL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LT-COL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LT-COL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LT-COL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION, ...

    WEWAK POINT, NEW GUINEA, 1945-05-12. LT-COL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION, ...

    WEWAK AREA, NEW GUINEA, 1945-06-14. LT-GEN G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER 2/4 INFANTRY BATTALION ...

    WEWAK AREA, NEW GUINEA, 1945-06-14. GENERAL SIR THOMAS A. BLAMEY, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, ALLIED LAND ...

    WIRUI BEACH, WEWAK AREA, NEW GUINEA. 1945-09-05. LIEUTENANT COLONEL G.S. COX, COMMANDING OFFICER ...

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 04 December 1914 Sydney, NSW
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs) 17 August 1936
Interwar Service 1 17 August 1936 gunner 16th Hvy Bty,5th Hvy Brigade RAA
Interwar Service 2 01 February 1938 LBDR
Interwar Service 3 01 October 1938 BDR
Interwar Service 4 01 October 1938 LSGT
Interwar Service 5 21 February 1939 SGT
Interwar Service 6 02 September 1939 127th Bty
Career summary 1 19 September 1939 full time duty South Head Emplacements
Career summary 2 12 October 1939 BHeadquarters 5th Hvy Brigade
Career summary 3 10 November 1939 enlisted 2AIF 2/2nd battalion
Career summary 4 01 December 1939 SGT
Career summary 5 08 December 1939 lieutenant
Date commissioned 08 December 1939
Career summary 6 03 February 1940 arrived Middle East 13
Career summary 7 1940-07-22 - 1940-08-25 course Middle East Tactical School Pl Comd
Career summary 8 03 January 1941 wounded in action gun shot wound buttocks
Career summary 9 29 March 1941 returned to unit
Career summary 11 1941-05 arrived Middle East ex Greece
Career summary 12 09 July 1941 attached 2/1st battalion
Career summary 13 23 July 1941 2/1st battalion
Career summary 14 19 August 1941 temporary captain
Career summary 15 10 December 1941 adjutant
Career summary 16 27 March 1942 arrived Ceylon
Career summary 17 07 August 1942 Returned to Australia (Melb)
Career summary 18 14 August 1942 married
Career summary 19 21 September 1942 arrived Moresby
Career summary 21 20 December 1942 Returned to Australia (Townsville )
Career summary 22 22 July 1943 Military Cross
Career summary 20 1943-12-16 - 1943-07-23 medical (dedema celluitis Lf
Career summary 23 1944-04-10 - 1944-06-16 course Land Headquarters Tactical Sc
Career summary 24 06 November 1944 2/7th battalion
Career summary 25 17 November 1944 arrived Aitape
Career summary 26 29 March 1945 commanding officer 2/4th battalion
Date and unit at appointment (Officers) 1945-03-29 - 1945-11-12 Commanding officer of 2/4 Battalion, 6 Division, AIF.
Appointment 1945-03-29 - 1945-12-11 Battalion: 2/4th; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: major 2/7th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: demobilised
Career summary 27 05 April 1945 temporary lieutenant colonel
Career summary 28 10 April 1945 medical ?? 5
Citations 2 14 May 1945 'For personal courage, leadership and skilful planning in the attacks on WEWAK Peninsula and WIRUI MISSION on 10 and
Career summary 29 14 September 1945 Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Career summary 30 26 October 1945 Returned to Australia (Bris)
Career summary 31 11 December 1945 relinquished command 2/4th
Career summary 32 22 December 1945 Reserve of Officers
Career summary 33 17 January 1946 lieutenant colonel (bd 5 Apr 45) promul
Career summary 35 01 April 1948 commanding officer 45th battalion
Career summary 36 17 July 1950 appointed Interim Army, Military Mission Malaya
Career summary 37 26 August 1950 commanding officer 45th battalion
Career summary 40 01 July 1952 command 8th Brigade
Career summary 39 05 August 1952 aide de camp to Queen
Career summary 44 25 May 1955 ED
Career summary 41 02 July 1956 Reserve of Officers
Career summary 42 01 July 1960 member of command and staff group eastern command
Career summary 43 02 July 1962 Unattached List
Date of death 16 November 1964
Career summary 10 c 1941-04-25 arrived Greece
Career summary 34 *** POST WAR ***
Career summary 38 aide de camp to King 13 Apr
Citations 3 WEWAK Peninsular and WIRUI MISSION were two key points of enemy resistence in the WEWAK area. 2/4 Aust Inf Bn, Commanded by Lt-Col COX, was given the task of capturing both these features. The enemy in each case had the advantage of dominating ground, an extensive and heavily protected series of fortifications and an abundance of automatic weapons. In the case of WEWAK Peninsular, there was a most difficult approach over a narrow sand-spit before the attack could be delivered.
Citations 4 Lt-COX, in each instance, went right forward with his advanced troops and, under heavy fire, carried out a reconnaissance in order to form his plan for the attack. The plans for both attacks were faultless. the successful employment of artillery and tanks and other supporting arms was outstanding. His appreciation of the ground and the careful selection of the times for the attack were important features in the success of both these operations. [sic] culminating in the capture of both objectives against particularly stubborn resistence and the extermination of the enemy garrisons at almost negligible cost to his own unit. During both attacks, Lt-Col COX was with his forward troops continually, and personally controlled and directed them. He set a fine example of leadership to all members of his unit and gained the admiration of every officer and man under his command.
Citations 5 These two successful operations enabled the Bde to ultimately clear the whole of the WEWAK-BORAM area. Lt-Col COX's personal bravery, initiative, forethought and planning throughout the operation are worthy of recognition.'
WW2 Service 1 Bardia-Benghazi
WW2 Service 4 New Guinea

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