Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Three: Lieutenant M. S. Fox, Special Brigade, Royal Engineers, who was one of the original ‘Chemical Soldiers’ of the Army’s Chemical Warfare Unit on the Western Front, and was present at the first British gas attack of the Great War, at Loos on 25 September 1915.

1914-15 Star (106626. Cpl. M. S. Fox. R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. M. S. Fox.) good very fine (3) £160-£200

Martin Sidney Fox, a schoolmaster from Lincoln, was born on 19 July 1888 and attested for the one of the Special Chemical companies of the Royal Engineers at London on 9 August 1915, being promoted Corporal that same day. He served during the Great War with 186 Company R.E. on the Western Front from 24 August 1915, as one of the original ‘Chemical Soldiers’ in the Army’s Chemical Warfare Unit, and was instrumental in the first British gas attack of the Great War, at Loos on 25 September 1915. He was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on 8 September 1917, and was again posted to the Special Brigade (as the Army’s Chemical Warfare Unit had been renamed). At its greatest strength the Special Brigade numbered 258 officers and 5,832 men. It conducted 768 gas operations involving 88,000 gas cylinders, and discharged over 5,700 tons of various gases. From Loos to the Armistice the gas companies discharged gas two nights out of every three. Total brigade casualties were 5,384, close to 100% of its total strength, and the Brigade won 557 decorations, including the Victoria Cross awarded to James Dawson.

Following the cessation of hostilities Fox relinquished his commission on 12 April 1919, and retained the rank of Lieutenant. Resuming his teaching career, he subsequently published two recollections of his services during the Great War: ‘With the Special Brigade’ in 1957, and ‘Corporals All’ in 1965. He died in Eastbourne, Sussex, on 16 September 1966.

Sold with various copied research, and a copy of the book ‘Chemical Soldiers- British Gas Warfare in World War One’ by Donald Richter, which contains various references to Fox.