Charles Fox (Berkshire Regiment) and William ‘Wilf’ Fox both served in the army during the First World War. Charles with the Berkshire Regiment and Wilf with the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Regiment. Charles and Wilf were my Great Grandmother's brothers. The brothers grew up in Aston, near Witney but the family believes they both served with their respective regiments in France. The family know very little about the two brothers and have found their histories difficult to trace. Sadly neither brother survived the war: Charles died on 22nd February 1918 and the family do not know the date that Wilf died. My grandmother had a few memories but she would only have been a very young girl at the time. The brothers were part of a large family of 13 children and both of them worked on the same farm in Aston, just outside Witney. It was the ‘done thing’ to sign-up for honour and for country. Wilf served with the Oxfordshire and Buckingham Light Infantry as a private (9604 service number according to War Graves Commission but no. 22485 W Fox is the number recorded on his campaign medals, the difference in numbers may possibly be because the numbers were later changed) . The medals, Death Penny and insignia badges have been passed down to me by my grandmother, who kept them in the wardrobe. I used to look at them when I was a boy and was fascinated by them. When my grandma passed away the medals and insignia were passed to me. I am very proud of the brothers’ contributions and for their service to the country and the war. I would have liked to have met them and to have learnt more about their experiences. Both brothers are commemorated at the Communal Cemetery at Metz-en-Coutere (British Extension) so we assume that they served in France. Charles has a headstone and Wilf is commemorated on a plinth. The photo shows my Grandmother visiting Charles headstone.
Medals in original envelopes – service and campaign medals (William Fox); Death Penny (For Charles Fox); Insignia for Royal Berkshire (Dragon) - Charles; Insignia for Oxfordshire (Horn) - Wilf. Photograph from visit to Charles' headstone