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, 30th November
1916, on assuming command of the 47th 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.
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, 30th November
1916, on assuming command of the 47th A.A. Company, R.G.A. A document
was found which was signed by Fred with the 47th 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 2nd
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, 3rd 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 47th AA in 1917
[2] Paper
regarding shooting down enemy aircraft
Note giving Fred's AA battery partial credit for downing a German airplane
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