Geoffrey Cox (Australian politician)
Encyclopedia
Brigadier
Geoffrey Souter Cox DSO
, MC
, ED
(4 December 1914 – 16 November 1964) was an Australia
n soldier and politician. A decorated officer during World War II
, he later entered politics, serving as a Liberal Party of Australia
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
from 1957 to 1964, representing the electorate of Vaucluse
.
Cox was born in Bondi
, and educated at Cleveland Street High School and Sydney Grammar School
. He worked as an insurance clerk before World War II
, but was active in the army reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1939. He enlisted for active service in late 1939, and was promoted to lieutenant after a month. He was a platoon commander in the Middle East and Greece in the early stages of the war, where he met his later wife, who he married during a brief return to Australia in 1942. He was subsequently deployed to New Guinea, where he was awarded the Military Cross
for his courage. Cox was later promoted to major and lieutenant colonel, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
for his role in administering two successful operations in 1945, during the closing stages of the war. Cox returned to Bondi after the war, working as a real-estate agent in the family business, and remaining active in the army reserve, where he rose to the rank of brigadier
.
Cox was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the state seat of Vaucluse
at a 1957 by-election
following the retirement of Liberal leader Murray Robson. He served on the Liberal executive from 1963 to 1964, but did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office. Cox committed suicide in his office at Parliament House on 16 November 1964, and was buried in a churchyard at Rose Bay
.
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
Geoffrey Souter Cox DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(4 December 1914 – 16 November 1964) was an Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n soldier and politician. A decorated officer during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he later entered politics, serving as a Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly
New South Wales Legislative Assembly
The Legislative Assembly, or lower house, is one of the two chambers of the Parliament of New South Wales, an Australian state. The other chamber is the Legislative Council. Both the Assembly and Council sit at Parliament House in the state capital, Sydney...
from 1957 to 1964, representing the electorate of Vaucluse
Electoral district of Vaucluse
Vaucluse is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, based on the suburb of Vaucluse. Vaucluse is one of two original electorates to have never been held by the opposing Labor party and always by the Liberal Party or its predecessors, the other...
.
Cox was born in Bondi
Bondi, New South Wales
Bondi is an eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Bondi is located seven kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government area of Waverley Council. The postcode is 2026.-Location:...
, and educated at Cleveland Street High School and Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School
Sydney Grammar School is an independent, non-denominational, selective, day school for boys, located in Darlinghurst, Edgecliff and St Ives, all suburbs of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
. He worked as an insurance clerk before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, but was active in the army reserve, rising to the rank of lieutenant in 1939. He enlisted for active service in late 1939, and was promoted to lieutenant after a month. He was a platoon commander in the Middle East and Greece in the early stages of the war, where he met his later wife, who he married during a brief return to Australia in 1942. He was subsequently deployed to New Guinea, where he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his courage. Cox was later promoted to major and lieutenant colonel, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
for his role in administering two successful operations in 1945, during the closing stages of the war. Cox returned to Bondi after the war, working as a real-estate agent in the family business, and remaining active in the army reserve, where he rose to the rank of brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
.
Cox was elected to the Legislative Assembly for the state seat of Vaucluse
Electoral district of Vaucluse
Vaucluse is an electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in the Australian state of New South Wales, based on the suburb of Vaucluse. Vaucluse is one of two original electorates to have never been held by the opposing Labor party and always by the Liberal Party or its predecessors, the other...
at a 1957 by-election
Vaucluse state by-election, 1957
A by-election was held for the New South Wales Legislative Assembly seat of Vaucluse on Saturday, 24 August 1957.It was triggered by the resignation of the former Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party, Lt.Col. Murray Robson, who retired from parliament.The seat was subsequently won by...
following the retirement of Liberal leader Murray Robson. He served on the Liberal executive from 1963 to 1964, but did not hold parliamentary or ministerial office. Cox committed suicide in his office at Parliament House on 16 November 1964, and was buried in a churchyard at Rose Bay
Rose Bay, New South Wales
Rose Bay is a harbourside, eastern suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Rose Bay is located 7 kilometres east of the Sydney central business district, in the local government areas of Waverley Municipal Council and Woollahra Council .Rose Bay has views of both the Sydney...
.