Arthur Cecil CROSS

CROSS, Arthur Cecil

Service Number: QX10557
Enlisted: 22 June 1940
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion
Born: Kingaroy, Queensland, Australia, 22 October 1909
Home Town: Kingaroy, South Burnett, Queensland
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Labourer
Died: Killed in Action, Malaya, 11 February 1942, aged 32 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
Singapore War Memorial, Kranji, Singapore Col 127
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery
Show Relationships

World War 2 Service

3 Sep 1939: Involvement Private, QX10557
22 Jun 1940: Enlisted
22 Jun 1940: Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Private, QX10557, 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion
11 Feb 1942: Discharged

Help us honour Arthur Cecil Cross's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Arthur Cross was the youngest son of John and Sarah Cross of Kingaroy, Queensland, who lost three sons killed in action during both World Wars. Arthur had two older brothers, 4386 Pte. John Cross 26th Battalion AIF, who was killed in action at Pozieres and 2801 Pte. Lawrence Cross 25th Company, Australian Machine Gun Corps, who was later killed in action in Belgium, during 1917. Arthur Cross was 6-7 years old when his two brothers died.

On 10 February 1942, at Singapore, the 2/26th Battalion moved into position on 4,000 yards (3,700 m) frontage between Bukit Mandai and Bukit Panjang, with each of its companies on top of a high feature, separated by 900 meters gaps of dense bush. Over the course of the next week, the 2/26th fought to defend Singapore island, however, by 15 February, the Allied defence had crumbled and the officer in command of British Empire troops in Malaya, announced that the garrison would surrender.

Around 53 men from the 2/26th Battalion died during February 1942.

Read more...