SIR WILLIAM GEORGE COXEN
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Lord Mayor of London during the Second World War – at the beginning of the Blitz
London 1939
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It is November 1939 and Britain has been at war with Germany for one month. The government had already ordered the mobilisation of all of Britain's armed forces and all men between the ages of 18 and 41 were required to report for duty. Evacuation is happening from London for vulnerable civilians and children in anticipation of German air attacks. Identity cards were mandatory for all citizens and at the same time the government were able to control all use of labour. There were over 150,000 British troops in France.
The new Lord Mayor of London 1939
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The first German air attack on Britain was in October 1939 and the Irish Republican Army (IRA) has also been blamed for bombs set off in London. In this situation, William George Coxen becomes the new Lord Mayor of London.
The Blitz
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Blitz is from the German word 'Blitzkrieg' meaning 'lightning war'. Between 7 September 1940 and 21 May 1941, 16 British cities suffered aerial raids over a period of 267 days, London was attacked 71 times. More than one million London houses were destroyed or damaged and more than 20,000 civilians were killed.
Battle of Britain Day
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The first major raid took place on 7 September 1940. On 15 September 1940, on a date known as the Battle of Britain Day, a large-scale raid was launched in daylight.
29th December 1940
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Probably the most devastating strike occurred on the evening of 29 December 1940, when German aircraft attacked the City of London itself with incendiary and high explosive bombs, causing a firestorm that has been called the Second Great Fire of London.
At 18:17, planes released the first of 10,000 fire bombs, eventually amounting to 300 dropped per minute. Altogether, 130 German bombers destroyed the historical centre of London.
William George Coxen
William George Coxen was born on the 23rd March 1867 when his parents lived at 8, Gray’s Terrace, Newington, London. At the time of William’s birth his father worked as a Draper but would soon become a publican running a Public House in Upper Holloway called the Crown.
The family resided at the Crown for most of William’s childhood. George Nickels Coxen’s parents, Joseph Coxen and Elizabeth Rosa Nickels had been publicans themselves during at least part of his childhood, as indeed were two of George’s uncles, at least two of his cousins, and one of his brothers.
William was educated at the Onger Grammar School in Essex and then at King’s College, London. During the First World War he served as Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion of the London Volunteer Rifles. He was Mayor of Holborn between 1919 and 1920, Chairman of the Joint Industrial Council for the London District between 1920 and 1922, an Alderman of London and Sheriff of the City of London between 1928 and 1929. William George Coxen was knighted in 1929.
Sir William George Coxen described as an Alderman of Billingsgate and Cordwainer was elected Lord Mayor of London and took office on the 9th November 1939, one month after the start of World War 2. He was 72 years old.
During his one year term of office Sir William and Lady Coxen spent much time fundraising for the war effort. It is documented that he raised £5 million during the year. During his term London was constantly bombarded and then the Blitz began.
In 1941 he was created a baronet, of Seal in the County of Kent. A baronet is a hereditary title down the male line Coxen married Kathleen Alice Doncaster in 1912. They had no children. He died in April 1946, aged 79, when the baronetcy became extinct.
The Sir William Coxen Trust Fund
The charity was established under the Will of Sir William Coxen (1867-1946), a previous Lord Mayor. It applies its income for the benefit of, or to pay over to, orthopaedic hospitals in England and other hospitals or charitable institutions carrying out similar work (with preference being given to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital of Great Portland Street). The endowment produces approximately £100,000 per annum from which grants are made. (Registered Charity 206936).
Income must be applied for the benefit of any orthopaedic hospital in England and other charitable institutions carrying out similar work (with preference being given to the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital of Great Portland Street).
In making his bequest, Sir William had in mind that young children up to the age of 14 should be periodically examined to see that they are growing into healthy men and women and that correction in any faults (orthopaedic) that may arise in them should be made.