Major General Charles Frederick Cox, CB, CMG, DSO, VD (2 May 1863 – 20 November 1944) was an Australian Army officer and politician.

Promoted to captain in 1897, he travelled to England again in 1899 in command of a squadron of the lancers for training with the British cavalry.

[3] The squadron was training alongside the 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers) at Aldershot, England, when the Boer War broke out.

[2] In the latter half of 1901, Cox's regiment joined part of a force led by Colonel Michael Rimington.

[3] For his service during the war, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the South Africa honours list published on 26 June 1902,[6] and received the decoration from the Prince of Wales during a large coronation parade of colonial troops in London on 1 July 1902.

[3] When Brigadier General Harry Chauvel took over the New Zealand and Australian Division on 19 September, Cox became acting commander of the 1st Light Horse Brigade.

[3] He rejoined his brigade on 26 August 1916 on the Suez Canal front, where they now formed part of Chauvel's ANZAC Mounted Division.

He was later awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO), the citation for which appeared in The London Gazette in November 1918 and reads as follows: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.

His quickness in realising the situation, and organising a counter-attack, resulted in the capture of a position before the enemy had time to consolidate.

As a senator, he took an interest in defence policy, the development of the railway system, and the construction of the new national capital in Canberra.