Name
Herbert William Cross
26 Sep 1882
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/09/1915
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
4/4966
Bedfordshire Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ALBERT COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION
I. A. 9.
France
Headstone Inscription
No Report
UK & Other Memorials
Tring Town Memorial, St Peter & St Paul Church Roll of Honour, Tring
Pre War
Herbert William Cross was born on 26 Sep 1882 (baptised 12 Jul 1884) to Thomas Henry Cross, painter and Annie (nee Clark).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Herbert, Florence (born 1883), George (born 1887), Ernest (born 1888) and Rose (born 1891) were living at 33, King Street, Tring.
Herbert’s father died in 1895.
On the 1901 Census Annie with children Herbert, George, Ernest, Rose, Clara (born and Arthur (born 1894) were living at Chapel Street, Tring.
On the 1911 Census Herbert’s mother was living at 49, Albert Street, Tring with George (a gardener), Ernest, Rose, Clara (domestic servant) and Arthur (a gardener)
Wartime Service
Herbert enlisted at Hatfield in the Bedfordshire Regiment as Private 4/4496. No Service Record was found for Herbert, but his serial 4/ indicates he was in 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion on enlistment, usually a reserve of Ex-Militia.
At some time he transferred to 1st Battalion and went to join the Battalion at Ypres on 24 Mar 1915. The 1st Battalion were engaged in the capture of Hill 60 (17-22 Apr 1915). Herbert’s was killed in action on 7 Sep 1915 during a period when the battalion does not appear to have been engaged in any significant action other than periods of duty on the trenches of the Front Line.
Additional Information
War Gratuity of £3 10s was paid to his mother and arrears of £12 14s 2d was shared between His mother and siblings.
His brother Arthur served with Royal Bucks Hussars and was killed in action 28 Nov 1917 in Palestine.
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Jonty Wild
