16 Facts About Walter Coxen

Walter Adams Coxen was born at Egham, England, on 22 June 1870.

Walter Coxen took a job with the Queensland Department of Railways as a clerk and draftsman on 18 August 1887, but was retrenched in 1892 due to the depression of the 1890s.

In 1893 Walter Coxen was commissioned into the Queensland Militia Garrison Artillery as a second lieutenant.

In November 1907, Walter Coxen again went to England for ordnance training at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.

Walter Coxen was promoted to major in 1908, and returned to Australia in February 1910.

Walter Coxen served briefly with the coast artillery at Fort Queenscliff before becoming Inspector of Ordnance and Ammunition at Army Headquarters in Melbourne.

On 14 August 1914, Walter Coxen became Inspector of Coast Defences with the rank of lieutenant colonel.

On 21 May 1915 Walter Coxen was ordered to raise the brigade of siege artillery for service in Europe.

On 18 January 1917, Walter Coxen replaced Brigadier General Talbot Hobbs as commander of the 1st Division Artillery.

On his appointment to the 1st Division, Walter Coxen was promoted to temporary brigadier general.

Walter Coxen served in that capacity through the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, the Battle of Bullecourt and the Third Battle of Ypres.

On 18 October 1917, Walter Coxen took over as commander of the Australian Corps Artillery and was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1918 New Year's Honours.

On 16 November 1918, Walter Coxen became Director of Ordnance in the AIF's Department of Repatriation in London.

Walter Coxen returned to Australia in August 1919 and became Chief of Ordnance, and a member of the Military Board.

Walter Coxen became Deputy Quartermaster General in April 1920, Chief of Artillery in May 1921 and Quartermaster General in 1925.

Walter Coxen died at the Repatriation General Hospital, Heidelberg on 15 December 1949 and was cremated with full military honours.