Cox, Fergus Robert (Air Mechanic, b.1895 - d.1982)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 1544 Private Fergus Cox, 11 Light Horse Regiment AIF, No. 68 Squadron RFC, No. 2 Squadron AFC, Australia and Egypt, 1915-1917.

Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection contains two original handwritten diaries relating to the military service of Private Fergus Cox. The first diary covers the period 22 October 1915 to 1 January 1916. Subjects include: embarking from Sydney on board the SS Hawkes Bay; arriving in Port Suez, Egypt; recreation and entertainment during the voyage, including tug of war, concerts, pillow fights and boxing matches; the purchase of a piano in Melbourne from subscriptions from the troops; Christmas celebrations in 1915 at Aerodrome Camp, Heliopolis in Egypt; food and food consumption; and recuperating from the mumps. The second diary covers the year 1917 when he transferred to the Royal Flying Corps, No. 68 Squadron, and then to the Australian Flying Corps with No. 2 Squadron.

Collection also contains an original newspaper article titled “A World War 1 soldier’s diary” written by Cherrie Murphy and published by The Western Star on 4 April 1997. This article outlines Cox's life and military service and includes an excerpt from his diary for 22 October 1915. Fourteen excerpts from his diary were published in the lead up to Anzac Day in a column titled "On active service from the diary of Yuleba's Fergus Cox". Copies of these articles have been reproduced with the permission of News Corp Australia.

Collection also includes 24 postcards and photographs with letters and annotations from Private Cox on the verso of each.

• Wallet 1 of 1 - Collection relating to the service of Fergus Robert Cox, 1915-1917