FREDERICK RATCLIFFE COX
23 August 1890 - 3 May 1916
At School 1901 - 1906
Sjt PS/4659 20th Royal Fusiliers
Frederick was born in Manchester and in 1891, aged 7 months, was living at 262 Ashton New Road, Beswick, with father Frederick, a Mercantile Clerk and mother Mary. By 1901 the family had moved to 19 Northern Grove, Didsbury, and younger brothers William and Percy had arrived. Frederick senior, now described as a Grey Cloth Buyer, was also able to afford a domestic servant.
At School Frederick excelled at cricket and football, playing on his school year teams and gaining his first team caps in 1905-06. The Hulmeian Magazine reported " Cox, F R (left back) - One of the best players in the team, his kicking being neat and swift. Puts plenty of dash into the game." His cricketing talents were also described "- The fastest bowler the School has had for some time. has shared the bowling honours with Hewett. Has made some good scores. A very smart field at slip." Frederick bowled 106 overs 35 maidens 251 runs for 38 wickets average 6.6 including the hat trick against Macclesfield Grammar School on Wednesday, May 16th 1906 for which he was awarded a cricket ball. He was also prominent on School sports days particularly in the 100 yards sprint and throwing the cricket ball where he was placed first or second in his age group throughout his school career.
On leaving School Frederick became a mercantile clerk with Ralli Brothers, Stanley Street, Salford and , on the outbreak of war, enlisted on 4th September 1914, in B Company, 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers, (3rd Public Schools), one of the Pals Battalions. The Battalion was raised at Epsom and located at Epsom and Leatherhead for training. In May 1915 the Battalion moved to Clipstone camp near Mansfield and then on 3rd August moved to Tidworth on Salisbury Plain for final training. On 14th November the Battalion left Folkestone for France, landing at Calais but then entraining for Boulogne where they marched uphill to Ostrohove Camp. The following day was spent on parades and a terrible route march, in the evening it snowed. The morning of the 16th saw the men packing up in the wet for the march to the
station, the road being a river of mud. The Battalion entrained for Thinnes, where they were billeted in stables and barns, them marched in two days, via L'Ecleme, to Bethune where they were quartered in the Montmorency Barracks. On the 21st, A & B Companies experienced its first
taste of the trenches, being attached to 19th Brigade for instruction and occupying trenches east of Cambrin for a day. C & D Companies relieved them on the 22nd and the Battalion suffered its first two casualties. After another brief spell in the front line, under instruction from the 5th Brigade, the Battalion returned to Bethune and on the 29th was permanently transferred to the 19th Brigade. From 6th to 10th December the Battalion undertook its first tour in the front line east of Le Plantin, about 1 mile north west of Givenchy; a few casualties were suffered from shrapnel and sniping but work was carried out on parapets, shelters, drainage and trench flooring. On the 10th the Battalion returned to Bethune, then marched to billets at Ham-en-Artois, some 10 miles north west of Bethune, where they spent the rest of December in Company and Platoon training.
From January through to July 1916 the Battalion remained in the Bethune area, spending time in the front line trenches in front of Cuinchy and in reserve, being billeted in Bethune, Beuvry, Le Quesnoy and Annequin at various different times. On 30th April the Battalion relieved the 1st Cameronians in the Cuinchy left subsection (Brickstacks) from Boyau (communication trench) 32 to La Bassee Canal, A 21 b 8.2 to A 16 c 0.6, which was completed by 9.15 p.m. Over the next three days Frederick was engaged in constructing a new piece of trench. On 3rd May he was caught in
a sudden flurry of shells and, being in an exposed position, was mortally wounded in the chest.
The War Diary merely reports for the day - "1 OR killed 1 OR wounded remained at duty."
His body was recovered and he is buried in Cambrin Churchyard Extension, Row F Grave 5.
Administration (with Will) was granted on 23 June 1916 to Mary Hannah Cox. Effects £191 11s 3d.
THE HULMEIAN - JULY 1916
Sergeant F R Cox, 20th Royal Fusiliers, who was killed in action on May 3rd was 25 years of age. He entered the School in September, 1901, and left in July, 1906. He distinguished himself especially at School in athletics, as his brothers did after him, and was in the first cricket and football elevens, afterwards playing for the Old Hulmeians A.F.C, and the South Manchester Cricket Club. He was also a member of the Brand Lane Choir. Before joining the colours he was with Messrs Ralli Bros., Salford and enlisted in the early days of the war. He had been engaged for two or three days constructing a new piece of trench. A sudden shower of shells came over and sergeant Cox, who was in an exposed position, was caught by the first and mortally wounded in the chest. He was greatly liked by the company and his death will be deplored by many Old Hulmeians.