Geoffrey Cox

Who was Geoffrey Cox?

Brigadier Geoffrey Souter Cox DSO, MC, ED was an Australian 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, whom 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.