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Cox, John Howard

Date of birth:
May 21st, 1919 (Thandiani, India)
Service number:
155146
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Before the war John Cox was studying French and German at Wadham College, Oxford. Cox was given an emergency commission into the Royal Artillery in November 1940.
In 1944 he led Jedburgh Team 'Ivor' in France for which he was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded a Croix de Guerre.
After his mission for which he was awarded the Military Cross he was dropped a second time behind the lines into Burma to work with Burmese nationalists with Sergeant Tack and Major Reid. After being taken prisoner by Indian National Army troops, Cox, Reid and Tack managed to escape, and were on the run for about three days before joining up with SOE colleagues.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Awarded on:
August 30th, 1945
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Captain
Unit:
Force 136, Special Operations Executive (SOE), British Government
Awarded on:
December 20th, 1945
Citation:
"Captain J.H. COX was Second-in-Command of a party which was landed by parachute behind the enemy lines in ARAKAN in Dec 44.
He had never been in the Far East before, and though knowing neither the language nor the people, undertook this operation within three weeks of arrival in the theatre.
Despite this handicap, which greatly intensified the dangers to which they were constantly exposed, a most successful guerilla movement was organised which consistently supplied high grade intelligence.
In addition to supplying intelligence, the guerillas, under the direction of this party and frequently of Capt. COX himself, carried out small nuisance raids which, in the aggregate, inflicted some 110 casualties on the enemy.
Throughout the whole operation Capt. COX by his own personal initiative, courage and resourcefulness contributed in no small measure to the success of the enterprise.

He is recommended for the periodical award of the Military Cross."
Military Cross (MC)

Sources

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