Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Bookir fire all day--would commence to shell the enemy at 8.45 p.m. The enemy were on a little knoll and entrenched about 20 or 15 yards in front of the trench we held. We withdrew in good order. Fitzgerald and Kidd were in the little trench all day, and, indeed, Fitzgerald got a bullet through his helmet at the same spot, for it was very closely sniped. Crosley was not up in this position for long, but was passing along the line and learning how matters stood. When I reached the position and was talking to Crosley two aeroplanes were overhead dropping bombs about, and he told us that the fumes from one bomb were all about him as he bandaged up Blood, who was hit in the shoulder. I chatted to him for a time, and he wanted me to take one of his famous automatic pistols, but as I had a rifle I refused. From where we were on to the ridge the ground sloped right to the sea, and this slope was covered with thick scrub, which scrub was fairly full of snipers, so we had a fire on both sides and plenty of shells. Crosley was, of course, very cheery, and his last word to me was 'Keep down and don't expose yourself. There are all sorts of things flying about here.' I left him arranging about water and ammunition with Mulligan. I heard from Kelly, in Alexandria, something of how well Crosley had done, and from all he told me I am not surprised to see his name in the Despatch. He would seem to have merited that honour highly. This is the only first hand information I have been able to secure. If I obtain any more I shall forward it to you." He was mentioned in Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton's Despatch of 11 Dec. 1915 [London Gazette, 28 Jan. 1916]. At Montreal he was instrumental in introducing and organising Rugby rules for the University football matches and was prominent in boxing, winning the amateur middle-weight championship of Canada. On his return to England he became a member of the London Rowing Club, and represented that club in eights at Henley and other Regattas. [Illustration: =Cecil Crosley.=] =CROSS, DANIEL=, Private, No. 81195, 2nd Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late (--) Cross, and gdson. of Daniel Cross, of Harleston, co. Northants; _b._ Harleston, 9 July, 1894; educ. there; went to Canada in March, 1911, and settled at Killarney, Manitoba; joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force after the outbreak of war, and came over with the first contingent, going to the Western Front in April, 1915. He died on Active Service in No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne, 25 Aug. 1915, of appendicitis. He was buried in the English cemetery there; _unm._ =CROSS, DAVID RONALD=, M.C., Lieut. 16th (The Queen's) Lancers, only _s._ of Adam Cross, of Brixworth Hall, co. Northampton, by his wife, Annie, dau. of David Guthrie; _b._ Midlothian, 18 Oct. 1889; educ. Marlborough and Christ Church, Oxford, at which latter he took his degree with honours. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 16 Lancers, 16 Aug. 1911, and promoted Lieut. 16 April, 1913. On the outbreak of war he went to France with his regt., was wounded in Oct., but after being in England for a few weeks rejoined, and was killed in action near Ypres, 21 Feb. 1915; _unm._ Lieut. Cross was twice mentioned in F.M. Sir John French's Despatches [London Gazette, 20 Oct. 1914, and 17 Feb. 1915], and was awarded the Military Cross [London Gazette, 18 Feb. 1915]. He was a smart rider to hounds, and was well known in the Pytchley country. In 1914 he won his two regimental races at the Curragh, Lord Annaly's Cup at the Pytchley point-to-point races, and at Punchestown the two military steeplechases in April. [Illustration: =David Ronald Cross.=] =CROSS, EDWIN=, Officer's Cook, 2nd Class, 141381, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =CROSS, WILLIAM CHARLES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4853), S.S. 104223, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, off the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =CROSSIN, EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6960, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =CROUCH, JOHN WILLIAM=, Ordinary Seaman (R.N.V.R.), 5/193 (Sussex), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =CROUSAZ, CECIL FRANCIS=, Lieut., 1st Battn. South Staffordshire Regt., yst. _s._ of William de Prelaz Crousaz, of 8, de Beauvoir Terrace, Guernsey, jurat of the Royal Court, Guernsey, by his wife Emma Arnold, dau. of John LeCappellain; _b._ Guernsey, 7 Dec. 1888; educ. Elizabeth College (Sandhurst entrance), Guernsey; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Battn. South Staffordshire Regt. 6 Nov. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 28 March, 1912. He served with both the 1st and 2nd Battns. of his regt. in South Africa and Gibraltar, and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, near Ypres, 31 Oct. 1914. Buried at Hooge; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. R. M. Ovens, wrote to his father: "Your boy was in command of our scouts and was a most valuable officer--energetic and keen, and a splendid disciplinarian. His exceptional strength and keenness made him a great asset to his regt. I last saw your boy leading his men forward near Gheluvelt Village, under a heavy fire, and encouraging them by voice and example. He was a brave and determined soldier." He won the featherweight boxing championship at Aldershot in 1913. [Illustration: =Cecil Francis Crousaz.=] =CROWTHER, LESLIE TAYLOR=, 2nd Lieut., 1/5th Battn. The Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of Norman Crowther, of Viso House, Huddersfield, by his wife, Gertrude, dau. of John Henry Sykes, of Huddersfield, J.P.; _b._ Viso House, Huddersfield, 27 Sept. 1892; educ. Wild's, Huddersfield, and after leaving school taught there for a time, and after his death his master wrote: "Leslie was such a splendid boy, so vigorous and cheerful, so conscientious and reliable, and it must have been so constant a joy to you both to see how by his own steady efforts he was making his way to a good position in life, and winning the respect of all with whom he had to deal." He had joined the 1/5th (Territorial) Battn. of the West Riding Regt. in 1909, and volunteering for Imperial service after the outbreak of the war, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the same, 21 Oct. 1914. He went to France with his regt., and was killed in action at Fleurbaix, 15 June, 1915, during a reconnaissance. His company officer, Lieut.-Col. Wilson, wrote: "When I recommended your son for a commission I felt certain I was doing the right thing, and I am pleased to say he has turned out a thoroughly efficient officer and keen soldier. The N.C.Os. and men in his platoon had become very much attached to him, and would follow him anywhere. Our loss is also very great. Every officer in the battn. admired and loved him.... He was always keen to go patrolling, and did his work well" and the following particulars were given by Lieut. A. B. Stott, who writing 16 June said: "Yesterday afternoon a reconnaissance was decided on. The party was to consist of Capt. Wheatley, Lie |