George Montague Cox

MBE Mbe may refer to: * Mbé, a town in the Republic of the Congo * Mbe Mountains Community Forest, in Nigeria * Mbe language, a language of Nigeria * Mbe' language, language of Cameroon * ''mbe'', ISO 639 code for the extinct Molala language Molal ...

, MC, AFC,

Order of the Crown (Belgium) The Order of the Crown (french: Ordre de la Couronne, nl, Kroonorde) is a national order of the Kingdom of Belgium. The Order is one of Belgium's highest honors. History The Order was established on October 15, 1897 by King Leopold II * ...

was a British

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with five aerial victories.

Early life

Cox was born in

Calcutta, India Kolkata (, or , ; also known as Calcutta , the official name until 2001) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal, on the eastern bank of the Hooghly River west of the border with Bangladesh. It is the primary business, commer ...

, on 31 October 1892. He was the son of Horace and Alice Emily Cox.

Military career

Cox served originally in the

Royal Berkshire Regiment The Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1959. The regiment was created in 1881, as the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Royal Berkshire Regiment), by ...

, being commissioned on 18 December 1914. In 1916, he transferred to the

Royal Flying Corps "Through Adversity to the Stars" , colors = , colours_label = , march = , mascot = , anniversaries = , decorations ...

. He received

Royal Aero Club The Royal Aero Club (RAeC) is the national co-ordinating body for air sport in the United Kingdom. It was founded in 1901 as the Aero Club of Great Britain, being granted the title of the "Royal Aero Club" in 1910. History The Aero Club was foun ...

Aviator's Certificate 3847 in a

Maurice Farman Maurice Alain Farman (21 March 1877 – 25 February 1964) was a British-French Grand Prix motor racing champion, an aviator, and an aircraft manufacturer and designer. Biography Born in Paris to English parents, he and his brothers Richard and ...

biplane at Military School,

Catterick Bridge Catterick Bridge is both a bridge across the River Swale in North Yorkshire, England, about 1 mile north of Catterick, and a hamlet at the south end of the bridge. The bridge The bridge carries the A6136 road (once the Great North Road). ...

on 20 November 1916. Posted to No. 65 Squadron in 1917, where he scored five victories flying the

Sopwith Camel The Sopwith Camel is a British First World War single-seat biplane fighter aircraft that was introduced on the Western Front in 1917. It was developed by the Sopwith Aviation Company as a successor to the Sopwith Pup and became one of the b ...

. After training as a fighter pilot, he was posted in 1917 to 65 Squadron where he flew Sopwith Camels; particularly no. B2411. He tallied his first victory on 15 November 1917.Henshaw (1995), pp. 249–250 He scored four more in the period to 17 May 1918, with his last one recorded while flying Camel no. C8272. Cox was awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC i ...

for his bravery and success. Sopwith F

He then was transferred within theatre to command No. 2 Test Flight RAF. Cox married Marjorie Evans on 16 April 1919 at

Acton Acton may refer to: Places Antarctica * Mount Acton Australia * Acton, Australian Capital Territory, a suburb of Canberra * Acton, Tasmania, a suburb of Burnie * Acton Park, Tasmania, a suburb of Hobart, Tasmania, formerly known as Acton Canada ...

Middlesex Middlesex (; abbreviation: Middx) is a Historic counties of England, historic county in South East England, southeast England. Its area is almost entirely within the wider urbanised area of London and mostly within the Ceremonial counties of ...

, they had two sons, Peter and John. He was transferred to the unemployed list on 16 June 1919. Cox was commissioned as flying officer in the General Duties Branch, Class A of the

Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...

Reserve of Air Force Officers on 6 March 1928, being confirmed in the rank on 6 September 1928, and

flight lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

on 6 August 1929. On 6 March 1933 he was transferred to Class C of the Reserve. THE Military Cross MOD 45147519

During

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Cox was serving with the

General Duties Branch of the Reserve of Air Force Officers as a flying instructor when his tireless work was recognized with the award of an Air Force Cross. He was promoted to

squadron leader Squadron leader (Sqn Ldr in the RAF ; SQNLDR in the RAAF and RNZAF; formerly sometimes S/L in all services) is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many countries which have historical British influence. It is also ...

in March 1941, and

wing commander Wing commander (Wg Cdr in the RAF, the IAF, and the PAF, WGCDR in the RNZAF and RAAF, formerly sometimes W/C in all services) is a senior commissioned rank in the British Royal Air Force and air forces of many countries which have historical ...

on 1 June 1942. Cox retired as wing commander on 10 February 1954.

Later life

In June 1958, having been Assistant Airport Manager, Prestwick Airport and Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation, George Montague Cox was appointed an Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

(MBE). He died on 19 February 1977, aged 84, at Huntingdon, in Cambridgeshire.

Honours and awards

(MC) awarded in July 1918 as T./Capt. George Montague Cox, Gen. List and R.A.F. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. On numerous occasions during recent operations he has descended to very low altitudes, and has attacked with bombs and machine-gun fire enemy troops forming up for attack. Thanks to his dash and intrepidity hostile bodies of troops have suffered very severe casualties and have been scattered in all directions. He has in all destroyed four hostile machines, and has at all times displayed the greatest gallantry. * Air Force Cross (AFC) awarded in October 1940 as

Flight Lieutenant Flight lieutenant is a junior commissioned rank in air forces that use the Royal Air Force (RAF) system of ranks, especially in Commonwealth countries. It has a NATO rank code of OF-2. Flight lieutenant is abbreviated as Flt Lt in the India ...

George Montague Cox, MC (70144), Reserve of Air Force Officers. * Officer of the

awarded in March 1951. * Ordinary Member of the Civil Division of the

(MBE).

References

Sources

Flightglobal Archive Flight 1 August 1918

The London Gazette 11 March 1941

Bibliography

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cox, George M. 1892 births 1977 deaths Royal Air Force personnel of World War I People from Huntingdon Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Recipients of the Air Force Cross (United Kingdom) Royal Air Force officers Recipients of the Military Cross Members of the Order of the British Empire