John Cox (Royal Navy officer)

Vice-Admiral Sir John Cox KCB (27 October 1928 - 3 October 2006) was an English Royal Navy Officer and Admiral.

Personal life
He was born in Peking, and first went to sea as a boy (in a small rowboat), when he warned the British fleet of the seizure of British Embassy property by pirates. This resulted in him receiving two reprimands for putting to sea without telling anyone where he was going — one from the Commander-in-Chief, China Station; the other from his mother.

Cox married Anne Folkstone in 1962, and had a son and daughter and two stepsons.

Career
As a British sailor, he was an influential figure, rising to numerous staff and sea commands, including Flag Officer Third Flotilla/Commander Anti-Submarine Warfare Group Two, responsible for the aircraft carriers and amphibious ships, although superseded by Sandy Woodward for the Falklands War, since he was about to retire at the time, and was on gardening leave. For his actions in preparing the fleet, he was appointed KCB in 1982.

Prior to the peak of his career, he was appointed to other notable commands, first commanding the minesweeper HMS Dilston, where he was mentioned in dispatches for reducing smuggling off Cyprus in 1952. He later commanded the minesweepers HMS Stubbington, Royal Navy Reserve HMS Thames, the frigate HMS Naiad and the guided missile destroyer HMS Norfolk.

Diplomatic career
As a Naval attaché, Cox was appointed to West Germany, where his technique of approaching Soviet Navy Officers "sailor-to-sailor" enabled him to learn intelligence while playing tennis.

Post-Naval career
After retirement from the Royal Navy, Cox turned his attention towards working with the disabled, including the Spastics Society, which he helped turn into Scope which lead to the Disability Discrimination Act of 1995. He was also on the parole board for HM Prison Wormwood Scrubs along with his wife.

Source

 * The Daily Telegraph Vice-Admiral Sir John Cox