LevelItem
Finding NoWL/3/54
Extent17 pieces
TitleResearch file number 770 relating to Private Arthur Cross (1882-1948)
Date2018
DescriptionWork completed by volunteer includes the following information:

Private Arthur Cross, latterly of Walkington, was born in West Hartlepool, Co Durham 21 Nov 1882. He was one of four sons born to Henry Cross, a railway porter born in Derby, and Harriet Cross, born in Warter 1854. In 1901 he was one of two apprentices to Mr George Ransom, a tailor in North Dalton. Having qualified as a tailor Arthur moved to Walkington and owned a tailor’s business at the Red House in the village. On 2 Aug 1908 he married Annie Fleetham at North Dalton. They had two children William Henry born 2 Jun 1911 and Phyllis 21 Feb 1916.

At the age of 33 Arthur enlisted at Beverley Barracks 12 Dec 1915. He was originally earmarked for the Army Supply Corps (ASC) but joined the newly formed Machine Gun Corps. He joined them for duty on 14 Dec arriving in France 25 April 1917 in the midst of the Battle of Arras. The Beverley Guardian 28 Sep 1917 reported he was wounded and he was sent back to hospital in the UK at Leicester. He did not return to front line duty in France until 11 Oct 1918.

Shortly after his return to France, Annie Cross died of influenza on 7 Nov 1918. Arthur returned home on 13 Nov 1918. Despite the Rector of Walkington Church writing to the army authorities to get exemption for Arthur from further military service, he returned to France on 7 Dec but was disembodied on 18 Jan 1919. He was awarded the War and Victory medals.

Arthur returned to the tailoring trade and lived at the Red House for the rest of his life. He married Alice Lacey (nee Brown), a widow, aged 28 at Beverley Minster on 26 Dec 1921. They had one child-Donald Arthur born 4 Jan 1923. Arthur died 22 Jan 1948, aged 65, and was buried at All Saints, Walkington, 26 Jan 1948.

Includes photograph, information taken from census, military records, Commonwealth War Graves, newspapers
AccessStatusOpen
    Powered by CalmView© 2008-2025