Arthur Thomas Cross

Story:
Arthur Thomas Cross was born in Blandford, Dorset, on 1 Oct 1889 the son of Charles Henry Cross and Lucy Hannah Cross (nee Dean).  He lived his early life in the High Street, Charlton Marshall, Dorset, and later at Woodcutts Farm Cottages, Sixpenny Handley, Dorset.  He had enlisted on 20 Jun 1908 and joined the Duke of Edinburgh's (Wiltshire) Regiment as a Private (Service No. 8154).    The 1911 Census shows him in barracks at Greatham, Hampshire.   He married Delia Mary Slevin in Devizes, Wiltshire, on 24 Jun 1914.   At the outbreak of war he had been posted to France and Flanders on 14 Aug 1914 and served with the 1st Battalion.   He received gunshot wounds to the Right Thigh sufficient to be discharged as being physically unfit for further service on 3 Sep 1915.  He was awarded the Silver War Badge No. 9620 as well as the Victory and British War Medals along with the 1914/1915 Star.   By the time of the 1939 Register he was living at 1 Council Houses, Pewsey, Wiltshire, working as an RAF Motor Transport Driver.  His death was recorded in Salisbury, Wiltshire, on 27 Sep 1961.  His brother, Reginald Douglas Cross, also served in the conflict.