Brigadier Geoffrey Souter Cox

Service number	2/75619, NX8576
Ranks Held	Captain, Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, Brigadier
Birth Date	1914-12-04
Birth Place	Australia: New South Wales, Sydney, Bondi
Death Date	1964-11-16
Death Place	Australia: New South Wales, Sydney
Final Rank	Brigadier
Service	Australian Army
Units	2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion 2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion
Places	Sydney Bondi
Conflicts/Operations	Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960 Second World War, 1939-1945
Gazettes	Published in London Gazette in 1945-09-27 Published in London Gazette in 1943-08-19 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1943-07-22 Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1945-09-20

Collection items

Rolls

Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/4th Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Temporary Lieutenant Colonel

London Gazette

27 September 1945 on page 4782 at position 1

Commonwealth Gazette

20 September 1945 on page 2023 at position 1
Honours and Awards (Recommendation):

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945
Malayan Emergency Rolls and Awards Registers:

Conflict

Malayan Emergency, 1948-1960

Rank

Brigadier
Honours and Awards:

Unit

2/1st Australian Infantry Battalion

Conflict

Second World War, 1939-1945

Rank

Captain

London Gazette

19 August 1943 on page 3725 at position 1

Commonwealth Gazette

22 July 1943 on page 1491 at position 7

Timeline

Date of birth	04 December 1914	Sydney, NSW
Date and unit at enlinstment (ORs)	17 August 1936
Interwar Service 1	17 August 1936	gunner 16th Hvy Bty,5th Hvy Brigade RAA
Interwar Service 2	01 February 1938	LBDR
Interwar Service 3	01 October 1938	BDR
Interwar Service 4	01 October 1938	LSGT
Interwar Service 5	21 February 1939	SGT
Interwar Service 6	02 September 1939	127th Bty
Career summary 1	19 September 1939	full time duty South Head Emplacements
Career summary 2	12 October 1939	BHeadquarters 5th Hvy Brigade
Career summary 3	10 November 1939	enlisted 2AIF 2/2nd battalion
Career summary 4	01 December 1939	SGT
Career summary 5	08 December 1939	lieutenant
Date commissioned	08 December 1939
Career summary 6	03 February 1940	arrived Middle East 13
Career summary 7	1940-07-22 - 1940-08-25	course Middle East Tactical School Pl Comd
Career summary 8	03 January 1941	wounded in action gun shot wound buttocks
Career summary 9	29 March 1941	returned to unit
Career summary 11	1941-05	arrived Middle East ex Greece
Career summary 12	09 July 1941	attached 2/1st battalion
Career summary 13	23 July 1941	2/1st battalion
Career summary 14	19 August 1941	temporary captain
Career summary 15	10 December 1941	adjutant
Career summary 16	27 March 1942	arrived Ceylon
Career summary 17	07 August 1942	Returned to Australia (Melb)
Career summary 18	14 August 1942	married
Career summary 19	21 September 1942	arrived Moresby
Career summary 21	20 December 1942	Returned to Australia (Townsville )
Career summary 22	22 July 1943	Military Cross
Career summary 20	1943-12-16 - 1943-07-23	medical (dedema celluitis Lf
Career summary 23	1944-04-10 - 1944-06-16	course Land Headquarters Tactical Sc
Career summary 24	06 November 1944	2/7th battalion
Career summary 25	17 November 1944	arrived Aitape
Career summary 26	29 March 1945	commanding officer 2/4th battalion
Date and unit at appointment (Officers)	1945-03-29 - 1945-11-12	Commanding officer of 2/4 Battalion, 6 Division, AIF.
Appointment	1945-03-29 - 1945-12-11	Battalion: 2/4th; Rank on appointment: major, temporary lieutenant colonel ; Appointed from: major 2/7th battalion ; Reason for end of appointment: demobilised
Career summary 27	05 April 1945	temporary lieutenant colonel
Career summary 28	10 April 1945	medical ?? 5
Citations 2	14 May 1945	'For personal courage, leadership and skilful planning in the attacks on WEWAK Peninsula and WIRUI MISSION on 10 and
Career summary 29	14 September 1945	Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Career summary 30	26 October 1945	Returned to Australia (Bris)
Career summary 31	11 December 1945	relinquished command 2/4th
Career summary 32	22 December 1945	Reserve of Officers
Career summary 33	17 January 1946	lieutenant colonel (bd 5 Apr 45) promul
Career summary 35	01 April 1948	commanding officer 45th battalion
Career summary 36	17 July 1950	appointed Interim Army, Military Mission Malaya
Career summary 37	26 August 1950	commanding officer 45th battalion
Career summary 40	01 July 1952	command 8th Brigade
Career summary 39	05 August 1952	aide de camp to Queen
Career summary 44	25 May 1955	ED
Career summary 41	02 July 1956	Reserve of Officers
Career summary 42	01 July 1960	member of command and staff group eastern command
Career summary 43	02 July 1962	Unattached List
Date of death	16 November 1964
Career summary 10	c 1941-04-25	arrived Greece
Career summary 34		* POST WAR *
Career summary 38		aide de camp to King 13 Apr
Citations 3		WEWAK Peninsular and WIRUI MISSION were two key points of enemy resistence in the WEWAK area. 2/4 Aust Inf Bn, Commanded by Lt-Col COX, was given the task of capturing both these features. The enemy in each case had the advantage of dominating ground, an extensive and heavily protected series of fortifications and an abundance of automatic weapons. In the case of WEWAK Peninsular, there was a most difficult approach over a narrow sand-spit before the attack could be delivered.
Citations 4		Lt-COX, in each instance, went right forward with his advanced troops and, under heavy fire, carried out a reconnaissance in order to form his plan for the attack. The plans for both attacks were faultless. the successful employment of artillery and tanks and other supporting arms was outstanding. His appreciation of the ground and the careful selection of the times for the attack were important features in the success of both these operations. [sic] culminating in the capture of both objectives against particularly stubborn resistence and the extermination of the enemy garrisons at almost negligible cost to his own unit. During both attacks, Lt-Col COX was with his forward troops continually, and personally controlled and directed them. He set a fine example of leadership to all members of his unit and gained the admiration of every officer and man under his command.
Citations 5		These two successful operations enabled the Bde to ultimately clear the whole of the WEWAK-BORAM area. Lt-Col COX's personal bravery, initiative, forethought and planning throughout the operation are worthy of recognition.'
WW2 Service 1		Bardia-Benghazi
WW2 Service 4		New Guinea