The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals Relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of the Sudan

The Great War Mesopotamia operations D.S.O. group of six awarded to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Edward Cox, Army Service Corps, who served on the patrol against the Beir and Annuak Tribes in South Eastern Sudan in 1912, and went on to serve in Gallipoli, Mesopotamia and Salonika

Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, complete with top bar; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 5 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Transvaal, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2 Lieut., A.S.C.); 1914-15 Star (Major, A.S.C.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Lt. Col.); Khedive’s Sudan 1910-22, 1st issue, 1 clasp, Sudan 1912, unnamed, good very fine (6) £2200-2500

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Allan and Janet Woodliffe Collection of Medals relating to the Reconquest and Pacification of The Sudan 1896-1956.

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D.S.O. London Gazette 7 February 1918: ‘For distinguished services rendered in connection with Military Operations in Mesopotamia’.

Charles Edward Cox was born on 30 January 1881 and was commissioned a 2 Lieutenant in the Army Service Corps on 21 February 1900 from the Military College, Sandhurst.

Posted to South Africa, he served in operations in Cape Colony, February 1901; operations in the Transvaal, March-August 1901; and operations in the Orange River Colony, August 1901-May 1902. Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1901. Cox remained in South Africa until December 1905, when he returned home; being advanced to Captain in August 1905. Attached to the Egyptian Army from 3 February 1911 (E.A Transport Corps.) with the rank of Bimbashi (Major). Cox served in operations against the Beir and Annuak Tribes in South Eastern Sudan in 1912; and was promoted to the rank of Major on 30 October 1914. Cox married Annie Merkt on 19 April 1914.

Entering Gallipoli on 26 September 1915.; he left Gallipoli for a posting on the staff during the Salonika campaign, Greek Macedonia, where he served from 23 September 1915 to 9 January 1916. He was back with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 10 January 1916, where he remained until 17 August.

From 22 April 1916 he was placed in command of 53rd Divisional Train, arriving in Mesopotamia on 18 August 1916 and served in that theatre until 22 December 1918.

For his services he was awarded the D.S.O. and four times mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 15 August 1917, 12 March 1918, 27 August 1918 & 5 June 1919), all for ‘distinguished and gallant service and devotion’ in Mesopotamia. On 3 June 1919 he was granted the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel.

He went to India as Deputy Assistant Director of Supplies in the early 1920’s, remaining there until December 1926. Promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on 6 January 1923. Cox retired on 15 October 1927, but it is believed that he remained in India until 1932. His UK address was ‘Dianchar’, Warwick Rd., Copt Heath, Knowle, Birmingham. Lieutenant-Colonel Cox died on 12 March 1937.

With a folder containing copied research.