British Victoria Cross recipient. Arthur Cross was born in Shipdham, Norfolk. During the First World War, he served as an acting Lance Corporal with the 40th battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. On March 25, 1918, at Ervilliers in France, he volunteered to make a reconnaissance of the position of two machine guns which had been captured by the Germans. He advanced single-handed to the enemy trench and, armed with his revolver, forced seven Germans to surrender and carry their machine guns, tripods and ammunition to the British lines. These were then used to annihilate a very heavy attack. His citation concluded: "It is impossible to speak too highly of the extreme gallantry and dash displayed by this N.C.O. who, throughout four days of operations, showed supreme devotion to duty." A couple of weeks later, Lt. Col. Cross was awarded the Military Medal, for holding a bridge against an enemy attack. In 1954, he loaned his medal for David Niven to wear during the filming of "Carrington V.C." which is known in the States as "Court Martial." When he died, no marker was put on his grave, although there was a small headstone to mark the resting place of his second wife and two children, who had been killed during the bombing of London in the Second World War. His first wife lay in the same cemetery, also in an unmarked grave. However, on the 27th. September 2001, a granite headstone was unveiled for all of them.
British Victoria Cross recipient. Arthur Cross was born in Shipdham, Norfolk. During the First World War, he served as an acting Lance Corporal with the 40th battalion of the Machine Gun Corps. On March 25, 1918, at Ervilliers in France, he volunteered to make a reconnaissance of the position of two machine guns which had been captured by the Germans. He advanced single-handed to the enemy trench and, armed with his revolver, forced seven Germans to surrender and carry their machine guns, tripods and ammunition to the British lines. These were then used to annihilate a very heavy attack. His citation concluded: "It is impossible to speak too highly of the extreme gallantry and dash displayed by this N.C.O. who, throughout four days of operations, showed supreme devotion to duty." A couple of weeks later, Lt. Col. Cross was awarded the Military Medal, for holding a bridge against an enemy attack. In 1954, he loaned his medal for David Niven to wear during the filming of "Carrington V.C." which is known in the States as "Court Martial." When he died, no marker was put on his grave, although there was a small headstone to mark the resting place of his second wife and two children, who had been killed during the bombing of London in the Second World War. His first wife lay in the same cemetery, also in an unmarked grave. However, on the 27th. September 2001, a granite headstone was unveiled for all of them.
Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine
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