William Reginald Cox

William Reginald Cox
Born	13 June 1905 Herefordshire, England
Died	12 June 1988 Salisbury, Wiltshire, England
Buried at	St Mary and St Melor Church, Amesbury
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1925–1960
Rank	Major-General
Unit	King's Shropshire Light Infantry
Commands held	1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment Mid West District and 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Major-General William Reginald Cox CB, DSO (13 June 1905 – 12 June 1988) was a senior British Army officer who commanded the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment in the Western European Campaign from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945. He later served as colonel of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry.

Military career

Educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Cox joined the British Army and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the King's Shropshire Light Infantry on 29 January 1925.^[1] He served in World War II as Commanding Officer (CO) of the 11th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment from July 1942 (reconstituted as the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment from January 1943).^[2]

After the war he became brigadier on the general staff at Western Command in 1948, Deputy Director of Infantry in June 1953 and Chief of Staff at Southern Command in March 1954.^[2] He went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) Mid West District and 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division in March 1955 and Director, Territorial Army, Cadets and Home Guard in February 1958.^[2] He retired in August 1960.^[2]

Cox became colonel of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in November 1957.^[3] He died on 12 June 1988 and was buried at St Mary and St Melor Church in Amesbury.^[2]

References