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Captain Dr Lionel Boxer CD KSJ LCM
Army Reserve Recruiting Officer
Royal Australian Engineers

Ancestors in Uniform

My father:
Major John Boxer, CD served with the Royal Engineers throughout WWII with the 8th Army in Palestine, North Africa, Greece, and Italy. Following the war he served in Greece and Iraq until being demobilised in 1947. He later served with 2FER, RCE from the late 1940s to the 1960s. In the mid 1930s he worked at Farnborough and was issued patents for early jet engine development.

My maternal grand-father and grand-mother:
3571 L/Cpl Robert Edward McIndoe, MBE served with the 21st Bn and then 24th Bn, 1st AIF. He arrived in Egypt just as Gallipoli campaign ended and later fought in France. He was at Paschendale and The Somme and suffered from gas attacks and shell bursts. While being treated, he met my grand-mother, Sister Dorothy Sofia Mock, a Canadian Nurse serving in London. He regained sight before his hearing; he named her 'Jean' and she kept that name for the rest of her life. They were married in St Helen Congregational Church, in the presence of her grandfather, Colonel Stephen Mock and other family from Cwmcarvan, Swansea.

My great-great-great-uncle:
Colonel Sydney Lewis Penhorwood, MVO, OBE, VD, in 1913 Raised and commanded the Sault’s 51st Rifles (known as the Soo Rifles), became good friends with King George V while in charge of the Forestry Unit during World War I (Commanded C.F.C.Base depot Sunningdale, England). Penhorwood Park, Sault St Marie, Ontario, Canada is named in his honour after service as Chairman of the Parks Board for that city. There is a photo of him with King George and legendary Canadian flying ace Billy Bishop.

My great-uncle:
Cedrick Mock was another Canadian flying ace who survived WWI. After attending the Royal Naval College From the 1920s to the 1950s, Cedrick was a ship's chief engineer with the British merchant marines, serving on the North Atlantic and Indian Oceans during WWII. Three ships he served on were sunk.

My great-Uncle:
After attending the Royal Naval College, Horace Mock served in the Royal Navy. He was the harbour master in Bristol during WWII.

My maternal great-great-grand father:
Colonel Stephen S. Mock from Swansea, Wales and appears to have been born near Swansea, Wales. Promoted Lieutenant 1 June 1873. Page 621 of the January 1883 Army List shows a Captain S. S. Mock with a date of rank of 21 July 1875 in the 3rd Glamorgan (Volunteer) Battalion of The Welsh Regiment that was located at Swansea. Promoted Major 9 August 1890. The 1891 army list include in italics Hon. L. C.. His son, Harry John Mock moved to Stratford, Ontario, Canada, where my grandmother was born. His nephew was Captain Thomas Penhorwood (Glamorganshire Rifles), father of Colonel Sydney Penhorwood mentioned above.