Royal Field Artillery WW1: Capt Fred Coxen's Military Career 2

The communiqué is divided into four sections; the first section is the original request from Colonel S.W. Lane, while the second section is a response from Headquarters Western Command, by Harry Cooper, Colonel Commanding No.3 District, referencing telegram 2259 G of 10.5.16, regarding speedy reply to the original request. In section three, marked “Confidential”, is directed to Garrison Commander, Mersey Garrison, Liverpool, referencing an attached letter dated 7th June, 1916, from Officer Commanding No.3 District – “Please say if Lieutenant F Coxen can now be returned to his unit, C.S. Hope – Johnstone, Major, General Staff, Western Command.” Section four is a return response, as follows

If the establishment submitted in this office number as above of June 1916, your C.R.W.C.54318/37 (G).K.1045g of May 27th 1916 is authorized it is desired to recommend 2/Lieut. F. Coxen for the appointment of Adjutant and Quartermaster with the temporary rank of Captain. 2) He is now well acquainted with the details of the Liverpool A.A. Command, and it would be a pity to replace him by another officer who would have to learn the work all over again. (sd) R.F. Edwards, Brigadier-General, Commanding Mersey Defences; Liverpool, 9-6-16. [i]

Fred remained with the Defense District until November 30, 1916, at which time he returned to the RFA.

I discovered a great deal of military correspondence regarding Fred’s request for additional duty pay, for the period he held the temporary rank of Captain. His claim was eventually settled, as stated in the letter written by the major commanding Liverpool A. A. Defences. (Figure 12)[1] The communiqué also presented insight to Fred’s next assignment,

Captain Coxen was recommended for the appointment to Adjutant in May last, and carried out the duties whilst the Establishment was under consideration and issued, and until relieved, 30^th November 1916, on assuming command of the 47^th A.A. Company, R.G.A. There is a document signed by Fred with the 47th AA stamp located near the top of the document.

Captain Coxen was recommended for the appointment to Adjutant in May last, and carried out the duties whilst the Establishment was under consideration and issued, and until relieved, 30^th November 1916, on assuming command of the 47^th A.A. Company, R.G.A. A document was found which was signed by Fred with the 47^th stamp so he was given command of the A.A. battery

Referring back to his service record, I noticed that he remained in England until November 11, 1917. Then on November 28, 1917, he was redeployed to France and assigned to an AA Battery. Prior to his departure, Fred posed for a photograph wearing his captain’s uniform, which was a temporary rank while serving with the Mersey Defence District. When Fred was transferred to an AA Battery in France he lost his temporary rank and reverted back to his permanent rank of 2^nd Lieutenant.

Rummaging through the box of documents, I noticed a small piece of brown paper with a handwritten message. In the upper left-hand corner, the paper was stamped; “N ANTI-AIRCRAFT BATTERY” and directly below it was Fred’s signature “F Coxen RFA” “N” Battery.

The handwritten message congratulated Fred for the downing of a bird (aeroplane), however headquarters could not verify if the craft was downed solely by N-battery, or a section of Q-battery, so they divided the kill between the two batteries. Fred’s Battery was part of the HQ, 3^rd Army group, which according to sources on the “Great War Forum,” was assigned to defend Paris. (Figure 13)[2] The fact that the paper was a congratulatory note from headquarters, and sent to Fred, indicates that Fred was “N” Battery’s commander. [i]

[1] Letter written by Fred showing he did command the 47^th AA in 1917

[2] Paper regarding shooting down enemy aircraft

[i] Ibid