After May 6th, the first recorded event impacting Fred was his
field promotion to 2nd Lieutenant, which took place on August 21st,
1915. Although significant, it does not reveal what happened during the three
months between his last entry and his promotion; questions without answers
remain.
Within the box of documents, I found and opened Fred’s “Officer’s Record
of Services – Army book 439”. Studying its contents, I found a notation on the
pages titled, “Service”, stating he left France on September 1, 1915 and returned
to England. Under the column marked “At Home”,
he had written, (AA[1]
Drilling), September 2, 1915 to November 27, 1917. (Figure 10) This notation disclosed complexities within
his simple statement “AA drilling”, which were previously undiscerned .
Reviewing other military communiqués, I discovered that the Royal Field
Artillery sent Fred to the Mersey Defence District on May 13, 1916. He was to
perform inspections on the Anti-Aircraft Gun Detachments in Liverpool. (Figure 10)
I questioned what transpired in the eight
months prior to his deployment to the Mersey Defence District. One plausible
explanation would be that he was being trained on anti-aircraft guns, which
would be logical, considering his previous experience had been with field
artillery. Anti-aircraft training would also offer credence to his
qualifications for inspecting the AA batteries.
An RFA dispatch dated 6.6.16 from S. W. Lane, Colonel Commanding 2a
Reserve Brigade R.F.A. to Headquarters No.3 District - Mersey Defence District,
questioned why the inspection was taking longer than expected, and requested to
be informed if Fred was not going to return. 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 a speedy response to the original request. In the third
section is marked “Confidential” to Garrison Commander, Mersey Garrison, Liverpool;
referencing to 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: 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. 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 11) 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, 30th November 1916, on
assuming command of the 47th A.A. Company, R.G.A. He was given command of the 47th as
verified by a letter he wrote and signed as “Commander 47th AA Company,
RGA, dated January 17, 1917. (Figure 19)
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 he would not wear again for
two years. For upon his arrival in
France, he reverted back to his rank of 2nd Lieutenant and assigned
an AA Battery.
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 couldn’t 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.
N-battery was part of the HQ, 3rd Army group, which according
to sources on the “Great War Forum,” was assigned to defend Paris. (Figure 12)
The fact that the paper was a congratulatory note from headquarters, and sent
to Fred, indicates that Fred was “N” Battery’s commander.
Referring back to his service record, Fred remained in France until May
18, 1918, at which time he returned to England.
A military record shows in November of 1918 he was seconded for service
with the newly-formed Royal Air Force[2],
and assigned to the 253 Squadron, RAF Bembridge. He is listed as an Observer
Officer, placed in charge of the payroll department. I have no doubt that Fred
was sent to the RAF because of his prior payroll experience while Adjutant of
the Mersey Defence District.
A communiqué from Captain D. Dustin, Officer Commanding 74th
Wing, RAF Calshot was discovered, recommending Fred for a promotion to the
temporary rank of Lieutenant. Another memo referenced that Fred was promoted to
the permanent rank of Lieutenant – retroactive to July 1, 1917. (Figure 13)
During the period that Fred operated the payroll department for the RAF,
the RFA sent a message requesting his return to his RFA unit forthwith. Within
the same communiqué, the RAF requested he remain with them for an additional
two weeks, reasoning that with a heavy work load and complicated payroll system,
his skill level was required until a replacement could be trained. (Figure 14)
Therefore on August 7, 1919, the Officer Commanding, RAF Navigation School,
Calshot, drafted a letter cancelling Fred’s orders to report to his RFA unit. (Figure
15)
I speculated as to whether he learned to fly during the time spent with
the RAF? I found nothing within his records indicating he received flight training;
however, I have a photograph showing Fred in an aviator’s suit. I posted the
photo on the “Great War Forum” website; a member identified the suit as a
standard RAF issue Sitcom Suit, made from proofed khaki twill, which was
rubberized and lined with mohair.(Figure 16)
It was evident while serving with the RAF, Fred wore an officer’s
uniform with an Observer’s Half Wing, located above the left top pocket of his
uniform jacket. His uniform would be congruent with his Navigator’s training,
and the reason he had the aviator’s flight suit. Never the less this latest
discovery contradicts family lore, and ruins a good story. (Figure 17)
Prior to my in-depth research, it was believed that a cherished, wooden
picture frame, containing photographs of both Fred and his wife, perhaps crafted
from the remains of a WWI aeroplane propeller. However, an assumption was made
that the propeller came from an aircraft flown by Fred. It now appears that if the
frame was made from an aeroplane propeller, it would not have been from an
aircraft flown by Fred.
Discovered among his personal items was a photograph of a Short 184
seaplane serial number N9111. It is unknown if Fred
flew or was a navigator on this type of aircraft; whatever the case, it is an
interesting photograph. (Figure 18) November 11th, 1918 Fred
received, “The King’s Message to the Royal Air Force”. (Figure 20)
His official military record shows that he transferred back to the
Regular Army Reserve of Officers as Captain, on the 26th of February,
1920, at which time he left the service and returned to his civilian occupation
of electrician.
The exact reason he ended his journal on May 6th, 1915 will
remain unknown.
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| Figure 12 |
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| Figure 15 |
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| Figure 19 |
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| Figure 11 |
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| Figure 18 |
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| Figure 10 |
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| Figure 13 |
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| Figure 16 |
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| Figure 14 |
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| Figure 20 |
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| Figure 17 |
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