TOPIC:

Fred Fox was probably not remarkable but anyone who, in my book, serves in uniform for 20 years and more deserves a mention.

Frederick Fox

Lance Sergeant, 126th Company (Younghusband’s Horse), 27th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry – Anglo Boer War
Lance Corporal, South African Engineer Corps – WWI
Captain, 2nd (Infantry Battalion), Railways & Harbours Brigade – A.C.F.

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony and South Africa 1902 to 38308 L. Serjt. F. Fox, 27 Bn. Imp. Yeo.
- 1914/15 Star to L/Cpl F. Fox, S.A.E.C.
- British War Medal to L/Cpl F. Fox, S.A.E.C.
- Victory Medal to L/Cpl F. Fox, S.A.E.C.
- Colonial Forces Auxiliary Long Service Medal to Lieut. F. Fox, 2nd (INFY) BN. R & H BGDE.

Frederick Fox was born in Shahjahanpur in the province of Uttar Pradesh, India on 24 February 1881 the son of Fred Fox, a Colour Sergeant with the 40th Regiment and his wife Agnes Letitia.

The dawn of the 1891 England census revealed that the family had returned to the United Kingdom and were resident at 6 Gamel Place in Chester where Fred senior was now a Quarter Master Sergeant in the Army. At home were Frederick, a boy of 10, and siblings George (6), Ellen (4) and Charles (2) – all keeping their young mother (she was only 26) on her toes.

By the time the 1901 England census came round the family had moved and were living at 36 Welby Place in Norton, Derbyshire. Of Fred senior there was no sign but it can be surmised that he was away on active service. 20 year old Frederick resided in the house along with his 37 year old mother and siblings Ellen (14) and Charles (12). What had become of George is unknown. Frederick was employed as a Draughtsman, a career he was to follow his entire working life.

The year 1901 was of course the middle point of the Anglo Boer War and, having a military man for a father, it was almost a certainty that young Frederick would be prevailed upon to do his bit for Queen and country. Fox was already playing a small part as a member of the 4th Battalion, West Yorkshire Voluntary Artillery based in Sheffield and it was whilst serving with them that he completed the Short Service Attestation Forms (One Year with the Colours) at Doncaster on 3 January 1902 for service with the 27th Battalion of the Imperial Yeomanry. Aged 20 years and 11 months Fox was 5 feet 7 inches tall and weighed 125 pounds with a fair complexion, grey eyes and dark hair.

Having been found Fit for the Army Fox was assigned no. 38308 and the rank of Private. Having sailed for South Africa he landed at Cape Town on 1 May 1902 and was deployed, primarily, in the Cape Colony. It must be remembered that at this point in the Boer War the Boers were on the run and were being systematically hemmed in by a combination of blockhouses constructed for the purpose as well as the sweeping drives being undertaken by the Imperial forces to affect their capture and impede their movements. The set phase of the war was long over and it was now very much a hit and run affair with small Boer Commandos marauding through the veld in search of isolated British columns and supply chains to pillage.

Fox and Younghusband’s Horse would have played their part in attempting to contain the Boers and it was for this that he was awarded the Cape Colony and South Africa 1902 clasps to go with the Queens Medal issued to him. His seniors must have identified leadership traits because; on 14 February 1902 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant.

The medal roll has a notation in the column stating that Fox remained in South Africa after the cessation of hostilities on 31 may 1902. This occurrence was commonplace with many young men seeing better prospects for themselves under the African sun and staying on to make a new lie for themselves.

Nothing further was heard from Fox in the intervening years before the next major calamity jolted the world out of its complacency. This was to be the Great War which commenced on 4 August 1914; some 12 years after the last shot had been fired in the Anglo Boer War. We find Fox employed in the Drawing Office of the South African Railways in Johannesburg where, on 1 December 1914, at the age of 34, he joined the ranks of the South African Engineering Corps, a natural fit considering his occupation, for service in German South West Africa with no. 2018 and the rank of Lance Corporal. One can surmise that he was employed in the drawing of maps and diagrams which were so necessary to formulate the strategy needed to take the fight to the Germans in what was a very dusty, dirty and hot campaign which lasted until the German surrender on 9 July 1915 at Otavi in the far north of the territory.

Fox was on the pay role until 2 August 1915 before returning to his civilian occupation with the Railways. For his efforts he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Being back in Civvy Street didn’t mean the end for Fox as far as his donning of a uniform was concerned. On 7 April 1920 he completed the Statement to be Completed in the case of Candidates for Commissioned Rank in the Active Citizen Forces and Reserve of Officers, Union Defence Forces. That he had relocated to Cape Town was apparent from the address he provided – Castletown Road, Wynberg – he was employed as a Civil Engineering Draughtsman in the Assistant General Manager’s Office of the S.A.R. & H in Cape Town.

By way of previous military service he confirmed that he had served in the Voluntary Artillery and the Imperial Yeomanry but went on to confirm that he had served from 1 August 1903 until 19 August 1914 with the Cape Field Artillery – a period of 11 years - with the rank of Sergeant. From there had, as we have seen, joined the S.A.E.C. (Railways & Harbours Brigade) for the duration of the German South West Campaign initially serving with the Cape Fortress Engineers from 19 August until 1 December 1914 and thereafter the S.A.E.C. itself. His nomination for appointment as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion of the Railways and Harbour Regiment was forwarded and recommended.

Freshly commissioned Fox went on to attend a course (Lieutenants qualifying for Captains) at the S.A. Military College at Robert’s Heights in Pretoria from 2 May to 23 May 1922. Coming second in his class he impressed the Instructors who wrote that he was, “a good stamp of officer and of good personality. Is a very keen officer and appears to have his heart in the work. Appears to be a good stamp of leader.”

On 28 December 1923 his Officer Commanding forwarded a minute to the Adjutant General in Pretoria applying for the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal to be awarded to Fox. He had completed the required 20 years of service dating back to his days with the Voluntary Artillery and it was now time that he be rewarded. On the 19th March 1924 permission was granted and the medal handed to Fox. Promotion to Captain came on 25 August 1925 with a vacancy arising as Company Commander of “B” Company. The motivation for his promotion stated that Lt. Fox “is a zealous and efficient officer”

On 31 December 1928, owing to a rationalisation of the military in South Africa, the R & H Brigade was disbanded and Fox saw this as an opportunity, after 24 years in uniform, to ask for a transfer to the Reserve of Officers. He would have been 48 years old when he wrote requesting this move from his home in Belper Road, Wynberg, Cape Town. This change was duly effected on 1 January 1929 and Fox became one of the many retired officers required to inform Defence Headquarters of their address annually. All went well until 1932 when he received (or didn’t receive) a letter from the Department of Defence inviting his attention to the fact that he had not advised them for 2 years in succession of his whereabouts. Chastised he wrote back with the details but this exercise was to be repeated in 1935 when he was again taken to task for not responding. To this there was no reply which was also the case with the same letter sent in November 1938. What had happened to Fox? Normally so fastidious about such things he had seemingly disappeared into thin air.

On 22 November 1938 the authorities were advised by the Post Office that letters to Fox’ s address were being returned through post marked “gone away”. This left the Defence Department with no choice but to classify Fox as Non – Effective which was duly done.

On the domestic front Fox had found the time to marry Margaret Brounlee Inglis which he did in Observatory, Cape Town, She was to bear him three daughters – Mabel Agnes Lawson, Eleanor Waring Fox and Muriel Margaret Smith. Fox passed away at the age of 67 years 8 months at his house “Rudgart” in Albertyn Road, Muizenberg on 11 October 1948. A Railways Pensioner he bequeathed the sum of £279 to his wife.

Rory,

He certainly deserves a mention. Another excellent write-up!

Good Morning Rory.......

Another man brought to life, Thank You........

Mike