Gordon Sharples CROSS

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.