The Queens Own Royal West Kent R

The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Second Lieutenant P F Cross

Second Lieutenant Philip Frank CROSS, 1st Battalion, Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, 22nd July 1916.

5th December 1895, born.

Previously Private 5th London Regiment, Service No.9584 & 1st West Riding Regiment.

4th November 1914, posted BEF.

Commemorated at Thiepval Memorial, Pier & Face 11C, Somme, France.

Link to Royal Bank of Scotland

Footnote: Second Lieutenant Philip Frank Cross, served with the 1st Battalion Royal West Kent Regiment during the Great War on the Western Front; commissioned Second Lieutenant 29.8.1915; killed in action during the disastrous attack on Wood Lane, 22.7.1916, which began at 9.52pm but was soon brought to a standstill after machine-gun fire cost 421 casualties, almost all officers, he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France

London Gazette 24th September 1915.

War Office, September, 1915. REGULAR FORCES.

The undermentioned non-commissioned officers and men to be temporary Second Lieutenants. Dated 29th August, 1915.

The Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).

Private P. F. Cross, from 5th (City of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade).

The following were supplied by Geoff Poole:

Numerous incidents of individual courage occurred very few of which can be recorded.

Lieutenant CALE, Battalion Lewis gun officer, assisted by Sergeant WESTON, the Lewis gun sergeant, endeavoured to carry out of action, under heavy fire, Lieut. CROSS whose thigh had been shattered.

2nd Lieutenant Reginald Harry CALE.

On the night of 22^nd-23^rd July 1916 when the battalion assaulted the German trenches near high wood, 2nd Lieut. CALE, who was battalion Lewis gun officer, followed the assaulting party with his sergeant. Having lost his way in the dark, he commenced to return to our trenches when he found a badly wounded officer. Owing to very heavy rifle and machine gun fire at a range of about 100 yards, the party had to crawl, and he carried the wounded officer on his back for a short distance. The wounded officer, however, who had a broken thigh could not bear the pain, and 2nd Lieut. CALE, then took him on his shoulders and walked upright with him. After going a short distance further the wounded officer had to be placed on the ground, and the party left him in search of a stretcher. This all took place under heavy fire.

This page was last updated on 08-Apr-2018.