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" |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Ballarat Australian Ex-Prisoners of War Memorial, Singapore Memorial Kranji War Cemetery |
World War 2 Service
| 3 Sep 1939: | Involvement Private, QX10557 | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted | |
| 22 Jun 1940: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, QX10557, 2nd/26th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Feb 1942: | Discharged |
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Add my storyBiography 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.
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