Date of birth:

May 21st, 1919 (Thandiani, India)

Service number:

155146

Nationality:

British

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.

John Cox's time in the SOE in France and Burma is the subject of a 1 man play, written and performed by his stepson Ed Saunders-Lee. It has been very well received, both in London and at the 2024 Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The play is called ''I Am Yours Sincerely'' and is a personal account of John's time from undergraduate at Wadham, Oxford, to Team IVOR in the Cher, to Teams CAMEL and PIG in Burma, capture, escape and, ultimately, love.

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Captain

Awarded on:

August 30th, 1945

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

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."

• Photo 1: Andrew Cox
• Photo 2: Andrew Cox
• - Recommendation for Award for Cox, John Howard Rank: Second Lieutenant,... | The National Archives
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37244/supplement/4372
  - https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/37396/supplement/6188
  - The Special Operations Executive in Burma 1941-1945 – Secret Agents & Guerrilla Armies in the Second World War
  - Special Forces - Roll Of Honour | Special Forces Roll Of Honour