Cross, James Jeffery

No.3804 – Private James Jeffery Cross – 51^st Battalion AIF

James Jeffrey Cross was born in Richmond Victoria in 1891 to Annie and William Cross. While he was still young the family moved across to WA and initially took up residence in Amherst Street South Fremantle. James was educated at White Gum Valley School and after leaving school took up work as a labourer and miner. During this time his mother took up residence in North Fremantle.

On the 18^th October 1915 James offered his services to the AIF and was accepted as fit. The medical officer found him to be 5 feet 8 ½ inches; weight of 147lbs; chest measurement of 32-35 inches; fair complexion and fair hair. His religious denomination was Roman Catholic. Initially allotted to No.34 Depot on the 4^th November he was sent to D Company of No.4 Depot and then finally on the 16^th December 1915 he was allotted to the 9^th Reinforcements to the 28^th Battalion AIF, his brother William being in the same reinforcement group. He trained with this group in WA for the next two months and embarked with them from Fremantle on the H.M.A.T. “Miltiades” on the 12^th February 1916.

After arriving in Egypt the men were sent into the 7^th Training Battalion, however James was not sent on to the 28^th Battalion. Many men of his group were sent to reinforce other WA units. On the 2^nd April 1916 James was sent to the newly formed 51^st Battalion AIF at Serapeum and trained with them for the next few months in the desert. On the 5^th June 1916, the 51^st Battalion embarked from Alexandria bound for France, arriving at Marseilles on the 12^th June 1916.

Once in France, the 51^st Battalion were sent to the north of France at Fleurbaix near Armentieres. They held the trenches here for a few weeks to gain experience of the Western Front.

Unfortunately on the 28^th June 1916 James was killed in action by shellfire. He was buried at Rue Du Bois Military Cemetery at Fleurbaix France in plot I.B.7 by the Reverend M Bergin. His mother would receive a pension after his death of 40/- per fortnight.