| Description | Work completed by volunteer includes the following information:
William Dunkin Cross was born 22 Nov 1884, the second son of Daniel Cross, tanner's labourer, of 6 Wharfe Terrace, Beckside, Beverley and his wife Jane, nee Atkinson. He worked as a shipyard labourer for Cochrane, Hamilton and Cooper on the River Hull, Beverley.
William enlisted 11 Feb 1901 in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment and served with them in South Africa, he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal and Cape Colony Clasp. Two days after receiving his discharge from the East Yorkshires, William enlisted in the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment 5 Nov 1903. Between 1904 and 1906 he was in Bombay, India. He returned to England and civilian life on 26 Nov 1906 and continued service with the Army Reserve until recalled to the colours at Pontefract 5 Aug 1914.
The Battalion was engaged in a number of major battles, 6 Jan 1917 at La Bassee William received a gunshot wound in his left leg. After several months in hospital and a period of convalescence he was declared medically fit. William was posted to the Depot at Ripon prior to rejoining his unit in France and he arrived in Boulogne 28 Jul 1917. On 21 Mar 1918 the 2nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment was in trenches at Lagnicourt, between Bapaume and Cambrai. William Cross was killed in action on the first day of the battle of General von Ludendorff's Spring Offensive.
Sergeant William Dunkin Cross has no known grave. His name is inscribed on the Arras Memorial to the Missing
Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers |