Pte Alban Walter Cox
Born 1892
•Died 5th July 1916
1/4th Battalion Essex Regiment
2/4th Battalion Royal Gloucestershire Regiment
5 Brickfield Cottages Priests Lane, later 7 Great Eastern Road, Brentwood
Alban Walter Cox was born in Brentwood in 1892, the son of Walter and Kate Cox. His father worked as a brickmaker. Alban was one of five children, and after he left school he got a job as a bricklayer.
During the first world war he was in the Essex Regiment before being transfered to the Royal Gloucestershire Regiment. His battalion, the 2/4th Gloucesters, were involved in the Somme and were on the front line in early July 1916. Alban was killed in action on the 5th July.
There are no details of exactly which action he was killed during, however on 5th July part of the 2/4th had been raiding the German trenches: "C Company of 2/4th Bn carried out a trench raid on 4/5 July, 'led with great dash and gallantry' by Capt Frank Hannam, who died of his wounds and was unsuccessfully recommended for a posthumous Victoria Cross." It may have been during this action that Alban was killed.