Steven Ralph Cox

Steven Ralph Cox

Personal Information
Date of Birth	10 Aug 1914
Place of Birth	Boulder, Western Australia
Death	28 Aug 1997, aged 83
Place of Death	Melville, Western Australia
Age at Enlistment	27 years, 3 months
Description	5'8½" (1.74m) tall ; ; sallow complexion ; blue eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Surveying Assistant
Religion	Church of England
Address	River road, Kelmscott, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Wife , Mrs. Viola Lucy Cox
Military Information
Reg Number	W25413 & WX41270
Date of Enlistment	5 Nov 1941
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	44th Australian Infantry Battalion (West Australian Rifle Regiment)
Military Movement
1st Departure from Australia
Journey Dates	6 Oct 1944 ‒ 10 Oct 1944
Transport Details	HMT Taroona Townsville to Lae, New Guinea
Transfers
Journey Dates	7 Nov 1944 ‒ 7 Nov 1944
Transport Details	SS John Lykes Lae to Torokina, Bougainville
Return to Australia
Journey Dates	13 Aug 1945 ‒ 13 Aug 1945
Transport Details	plane Port Moresby to Cairns
Post War Details
Fate	Returned to Australia
Medals	1939-45 Star Pacific Star War Medal 1939-45 Australian Service Medal 1939-45

Pre War

Electoral Roll entry: 1936 Station street, Yarloop, labourer. During 1941 he married Viola Lucy Johnson. A the time of his enlistment they had 2 children; 2 years 10 months, and 6 months old. Steven had a prior conviction for Breaking and Entering.

War Service

Steven first enlisted in the CMF on 27 Feb 1941 at Waroona and was posted to the 44th Australian Infantry Battalion (West Australian Rifle Regiment). On 16 Dec 1941 he was called up for full time duty. On 29 Jan 1942, at Bushmead Steven was charged with having been AWOL fom midnight 24 Jan 1942 until 12:55pm on 29 Jan 1942, for which he was Admonished and forfeited 5 days pay. At the same time he was charged with having Disobeyed a lawful command by a superior officer - and he was Fined 2/6 (25 cents), less than half a days pay. On 4 Apr 1942 he was charged with having failed to report to the Orderly Sergeant for which he was awarded 7 days detention and the loss of 7 days pay (42/- or $4.20) so he spent from 4 - 12 April 1942 in the Detention Barracks. On 10 Jun 1942 he was again charged with being AWOL this time from midnight 1 June until Midnight 8 Jun 1941. His punishment was 14 days detention and the loss of pay for those days and the 7 days he was AWOL. Steve was in detention again from 10 - 24 Jun 1942. Next misdemeanor meant that he was sent to a District Court Martial, and this occurred on 26 Aug 1942, charged with having been AWOL from 10:00pm on 25 Jun 1942 until 5:55pm on 5 Aug 1942. The penalty this time was 120 days detention plus the 21 days awaiting trial, forfeiting 182 days pay. On marching out to the Detention Barracks, he was transferred from the battalion and on 3 Dec 1942 when he was released, he reported to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot. On 18 Dec 1942 Steven was admitted to the 110th Australian Base Hospital who treated him until he was released on 23 Dec 1942. Posted back to the 44th Battalion he rejoined them on 8 Jan 1943.

On 12 Jan 1943 Steven was charged with 1) Disobeying a lawful command given by a superior officer on 11 January and 2) Disobeying a lawful command given by a superior officer on 12 January. Awarded a fine of 100/- (nearly 17 days pay), he was also sent to detention for 28 days. On 18 May 1943 Steven again faced a District Court Martial (in Geraldton) charged with being AWOL from 6:00am on 22 April until 7:00am on 6 May 1943. This time he was awarded detention for 6 months and forfeiture of 211 days pay. However on 18 Aug 1943 his period in detention was cut short , and on 24 Aug 1943 he returened to his battalion.

On 12 Feb 1944 Steven entrained in Perth for Queensland where on 30 Jun 1944 he transferred to the Australian Army Catering Corps as a Cook Grade II. He had enlisted in the AIF at Kairi near Atherton, Queensland on 9 Jun 1944 and returned to the 44th Battalion in his new role. On 21 Aug 1944 he was posted to the New Guinea General Details Depot at Lae, New Guinea. However, it wasn't until 6 Oct 1944 that he embarked on the HMT Taroona in Townsville for Lae where he disembarked on 10 Oct 1944, and on the 13th joined the 4th Australian Line Section. On 7 Nov 1944 he embarked on SS John Lykes in Lae for Bougainville, disembarking there on 9 Nov 1944. On 8 Aug 1945 Steven emplaned in Torokina for Port Moresby, and on 13 Aug 1945 he again emplanes, this time for Cairns. On his arrival he was transferred to Western Command Recruit Reception & General Details Depot where he was discharged on 31 Oct 1945.

31 Oct 1945

Post War

Electoral Roll entries: 1949 at 29 Florence street, Cottesloe, cook; 1958 at 7 Waroonga road, Claremont, cook; 1968 - 1980 at 87 Monash avenue, South Perth, cook. Lucy died 11 Apr 1983 aged 58 in Como.