RALPH LESLIE CROSS
Born: 1896, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.
Baptised on the 1st December 1896, at All Saints’ Church, Cottenham – family home at High Street, Cottenham.
Died: 5th April 1918; age 21; died of wounds – in the afternoon at West London Hospital, Hammersmith. Gunshot wound to the left leg and cardiac failure following nephritis – relatives not present. Served 3 years & 215 days.
Residence: Bon Marche, Brixton Road, London.
Family home at 32, Ruskin Road, Ipswich.
Enlistment Location: Camberwell; date: 3rd September 1914; age: 18 years & 11 days; religion: CofE. Signed up for the duration of the war. Height: 5 ft 6 in.
Service:
Home – 3rd September 1914 – 23rd June 1916
Embarked Southampton – 24th June 1916
Disembarked Havre – 25th June 1916
Embarked Marseilles 30th November 1916
Disembarked Salonika 29th November 1916
Embarked Salonika 18th June 1917
Disembarked Alexandria – 22nd June 1917
Embarked Alexandria – invalid; returned to England via the H.S.’Kalyan’. Camberwell 1st February 1918.
Admitted to West London Hospital, Hammersmith on the 1st February 1918, from the Expeditionary Force Egypt.
Wounded: Left hand abrasion – 11th August 1916 – in the field – cutting wood for a fire to cook an animal – no one to blame. Wounded in the field – 31st October 1917.
Gunshot wound to the thigh – in the field – 14th December 1917.
Offence: Being in bed at 6.40 a.m. – late on parade – improper reply to N.C.O. and unshaven on parade – 7 days C.B.
Rank: Rifleman/Lance Corporal; Service Number: 65096
Regiment: London Regiment (First Surrey Rifles), 21st Battalion.
Medals Awarded: Musketry Class 1, Victory, British War and 1915 Star.
The remains were sent to Ipswich for burial at the request of his mother – Mrs. Lizzie Cross, of 32, Ruskin Road, Ipswich; the funeral service and burial were held on the 10th April.
Grave Reference:
BA.1A.30.
Ipswich,
Brother to AUBREY EDWARD CROSS.
CENSUS
1901 High Street, Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.
Ralph was 4 years old and living with his parents, brothers & paternal grandfather.
Arthur William Cross, 43, a Grocer – own account, born Upwell, Cambridgeshire.
Lizzie Cross (nee Smith), 43, born Halstead, Essex.
Frank Goode Cross, 13, born Cottenham, Cambridgeshire.
Frederic William Cross, 9, born Cottenham.
Herbert John Cross, 9, born Cottenham.
William Cross, 73, an Agent for Fire & Life Assurance – own account, born Cottenham.
1 general domestic servant.
1911 3, Regent Terrace, Sea Road, Felixstowe.
Ralph was 14 years old and living with his parents & brothers.
Arthur, 55, an Apartment and Boarding Housekeeper – own account.
Lizzie, 54, an Apartment and Boarding Housekeeper – own account.
Frank, 23, a Carpenter.
Frederic, 19, an Electrical Engineer.
Herbert, 17, a Furniture Worker.
1 general domestic servant.
3 visitors.
At her home at 6, Cliff Terrace, St. John’s, Ipswich, on the 28th August 1918, Mrs. Lizzie Cross received her late son’s personal effects:
Sketchbook, Photos & Dictionary.
Lizzie Cross received her late son’s Victory & British War medals on the 29th May 1922.
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