Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 4 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill (Capt: P. A. Cox, Rifle Bde:) edge bruising and minor contact marks, very fine £240-280

D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917.

Patrick Godfrey Ashley Cox was born in Sitapur, India, on 10 October 1872 and was educated at Uppingham and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade on 21 February 1894, and was promoted Lieutenant on 26 August 1896 and Captain on 15 August 1900. He served in South Africa during the Boer War with the 4th Battalion, and as a Special Service Officer employed with the Mounted Infantry, and was present at operations in the Orange Free State, including the actions at Vet River on 5 and 6 May 1900, and the Zand River; operations in the Transvaal from May to June 1900, including the actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill, 11 and 12 June; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to November 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to November 1900, including the action at Caledon River, 27 to 29 November 1900; and operations in the Cape Colony and Orange River Colony, November 1900 to May 1902. For his services in South Africa he was twice Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 10 September 1901 and 29 July 1902); was promoted Brevet Major on 22 August 1902; and was appointed Aide-de-Camp to the Lieutenant-Governor of Orange River Colony.

Cox retired on 14 February 1911, before being re-employed with the rank of temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 29 October 1914, and commanded the 6th (Service) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, throughout the Great War. For his services during the War he was three times Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazettes 28 January 1916, 13 July 1916, and 6 December 1916); was awarded the French Legion of Honour; and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. He saw further service at home during the Second World War as Recruiting Officer, No. 6 Centre, Holloway, Middlesex, from 1941-42, and died in London on 15 February 1958.