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Gordon Sharples CROSS

Main CPGW Record

Surname: CROSS

Forename(s): Gordon Sharples

Place of Birth: Blackburn, Lancashire

Service No: 12519

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 8th (Service) Battalion

Division: 11th (Northern) Division

Age: 21

Date of Death: 1915-08-12

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Panel 118 to 120.

CWGC Cemetery: ---

CWGC Memorial: HELLES MEMORIAL

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: EARBY, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Gordon Sharples Cross was the son of James and Elizabeth Jane Cross, née Walmsley. James was born at Oldham and Elizabeth at Haslingden, Lancashire.

1901 Blackburn Lancashire Census: 30, Hodder Street - Gordon S. Cross, aged 7 years, born Blackburn, son of James and Elizabeth J. Cross.

1911 Earby, Yorkshire Census: 37, Langroyd Road - Gordon Sharples Cross, aged 18 years, born Blackburn, Lancashire. [Gordon was boarding with Julia Ann Tomlinson, widow.]

Gordon was married to Clara Eastwood in 1912. Clara married Harry Brotherton in 1919.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Gordon S. Cross, 12519, W. Rid. R. Theatre of War first served in: 2B - Balkans. Date of entry therein: 7.7.15. Died 12.8.15.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Gordon Sharples Cross, 12519, 8 W. Rid. R. Pred. dead 12.18 [sic].15.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Gordon Sharples Cross, 12519, 8th Bn W. Riding. Date and Place of Death: On or since 12.8.15. M.E.F. Death pres'd. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Widow - Clara Brotherton. £5 0s. 2d.

UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Gordon. Name(s) on card(s): Widow: Clara, born 17.6.93. Children: Muriel Irene, born 15.11.12.

In 1921 Harry and Clara Brotherton, their son, John Alwyn and Muriel were living at 37, Water Street, Earby. Harry is stated to be: (Out of Work) Disabled Soldier. In 1939 Harry and Clara were living at 7, Myra Avenue, Morecambe. Clara died in 1975.

See also:
‘Earby in the First World War’ by Stephanie Carter, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2014).
‘Our Finest Crop’ by Steven Marshall, published by Earby & District Local History Society (2020).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

CROSS, Gordon S., aged 22, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, Walton Street, [Earby], killed in action Gallipoli, Aug. 12, 1915.

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Private Gordon Sharples CROSS

Private Gordon Sharples CROSS

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 11th (Northern) Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 11th (Northern) Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: CROSS

Forename(s): Gordon Sharpes

Born: Blackburn, Lancs

Residence: Barnoldswick, Yorks

Enlisted: Skipton, Yorks

Number: 12519

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 8th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 12/08/15

Died How: Killed in action

Theatre of War: Mediterranean

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: CROSS

Forename(s): Gordon Sharpes

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 12519

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 8th Bn.

Age:

Awards:

Died Date: 12/08/1915

Additional Information:

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View Additional Text For Soldier Records

BRITISH REGIMENTS AT GALLIPOLI, by Ray Westlake (Pen & Sword Books Limited 1996)

8th (Service) Bn. Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

AUGUST 1915
In action (10th) – few casualties. Relieved from reserve trenches (11th) and to beach area. Moved forward to trenches Chocolate Hill (13th).

[Gordon Sharples Cross was among 25 men of the Battalion who, according to Soldiers Died in the Great War, were either killed or died of wounds on the 12th August.]

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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Helles Memorial: Panel 118

Helles Memorial: Panel 118

Courtesy of Stephen Ormrod (Photograph: Robert Hartley Bailey)

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

10 September 1915

OTHER EARBY CASUALTIES

Other casualties reported in Earby include Pte. Robert Healey, 1/6 Duke of Wellington's, wounded at Ypres; Pte Illingworth, 8th West Riding, wounded (severely), in Dardanelles; Pte. Arthur Aldersley, 8th West Ridings, wounded in Dardanelles; Pte. Gordon Cross and Pte. Bennett Bailey, both of 8th West Riding Regiment, prisoners of war in Turkey.

17 September 1915

8th DUKE’S HARD HIT IN GALLIPOLI – Letters from Earby Lads

Private H. T. Smith, of the 8th Battalion, Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, in the Dardanelles, writing to his parents at 79, Colne Road, in reference to the recent severe fighting, says:– “We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them I am afraid you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare, it is simply murder.

“It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might here mention that my name has been sent in for burying dead under fire whilst with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get this letter. One of Clark’s from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and the other is wounded; Burrows is wounded; Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves (Barnoldswick) is missing. Sam Rigby is alive, but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be down-hearted, because I am confident he is all right. Grassington Joe is injured, shot through the leg.”

26 January 1917

EARBY – SOLDIER’S DEATH PRESUMED

Mrs. G.S. Cross, Water Street, Earby, has received information in regard to her husband, Pte. Gordon S. Cross, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was reported missing in Gallipoli in August 1915. The Army Council has been regretfully constrained to conclude that his death took place on August 12th 1914 [1915] (or later).

Pte. Cross, who was 21 years of age, had only left England about a month prior to the above date. The first information received by his wife was “missing” after the battle of 12th August, since when she has heard nothing further until the news of his death. Pte. Cross was formerly a weaver at Messrs. A.J. Birley’s Limited. He leaves a widow and one child.

The deaths of two other Earby comrades – Pte. Smith Bailey and Pte. Bennett Bailey – who took part in the same battle were recently confirmed, after being reported missing at the same time. We will give a photo of Pte. Cross next week.

02 February 1917

CROSS – August 12th, 1915 (previously reported missing in Gallipoli), Pte. Gordon S. Cross, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, formerly of Water Street, Earby, aged 21 years.

02 February 1917

EARBY – PRIVATE GORDON S. CROSS

The above is a photograph of Pte. Gordon S. Cross, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, husband of Mrs. Cross of Water Street, Earby, who was reported missing in Gallipoli, August 1915, and whose death (as recorded last week) had been presumed by the Army Council to have taken place on August 12th, 1915. He was 21 years of age, and a weaver by trade.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

17 September 1915

EARBY LADS WITH THE 8th DUKE OF WELLINGTON’S

News of Comrades

Private James Walsh, son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Walsh of 79 Colne Road, Earby, who is in the 8th Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, has written home some interesting war-jottings, in which he says:– “You will find me a different lad if I get home again. We have been in some stiff ‘does’ and have suffered heavily, 320 being left out of 1000 of us. Our brigade has done very well, but we have paid the cost. The General says he wished he had all his Yorkshire lads back. Our Brigade has been in front on all the big advances, and that is a big honour. I am afraid H. Burrows is badly wounded. I went out of the dug-out in the trenches at five o’clock on Sunday, the 22nd, to find water for myself and pals. I found some about 200 yards away. Before five at night there had been about thirty shot down going to that well, and we could see them all. It was rotten. Never mind, I have come through so far, and I may come through all right at the end. We had a service on the beach last night, and we sang the hymn, ‘Lead, kindly light’. Well it takes a bit to move me, but that made me cry. I have prayed above once. As I am finishing this letter H.T. Smith has just come in, having been missing three days. R. Hewtson, E. Smith, J.T. Illingworth, H.T. Smith, H. Spencer (tackler), L. Trotter and J. Walsh are all well. Both Clarkes are wounded.”

Another Earby lad, Private N[H].T. Smith, of the same regiment in the Dardanelles, writes:–“We made an advance on the 22nd and 23rd, but I am sorry to say we paid very dearly for it. We were cut up terribly, and the worst part of it was that we lost a lot of Earby lads. Some of them, I am afraid, you will never see again. This is not civilised warfare; it is simply murder. It simply rained bullets and shrapnel, but I am still amongst the survivors. I was cut off from my regiment for three days, but I managed to fall in with the Munster Fusiliers, and I might mention here that my name has been sent in for being dead whilst under fire with the Munsters. You will perhaps have heard of this before you get my letter. One of the Clarkes from Earby got a bullet through the eye, and another is wounded. Burrows is wounded. Stockdale, Aldridge, Cross, and T. Hargreaves of Barnoldswick are missing. Sam Rigby is alive but taken prisoner, so you may tell his mother not to be downhearted, because I am confident he is alright.

26 January 1917

ANOTHER EARBY SOLDIER’S DEATH PRESUMED

Mrs. G.S. Cross, Water Street, Earby, has received information in regard to her husband, Private Gordon S. Cross, of the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, who was reported missing in Gallipoli in August 1915. The Army Council has been regretfully constrained to conclude that his death took place on August 12th 1913 [1915] (or later). Private Cross, who was 21 years of age, had only left England about a month prior to the above date. The first information received by his wife was ‘missing’ after the battle of 12th August, since when she has heard nothing further until the news of his death. Private Cross was formerly a weaver at Messrs. A.J. Birley’s Ltd. He leaves a widow and one child.

The deaths of two other Earby comrades – Private Smith Bailey and Private Bennett Bailey – who took part in the same battle, were recently confirmed, after being reported missing at the same time.

02 February 1917

BARNOLDSWICK

[Photograph caption]

Private G.S. Cross, of Earby, who was reported missing in Gallipoli in August, 1915. The Army Council now presumes that his death took place on August 12th, 1915, or later.

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