Cross, Raymond Joseph

3077 Private Raymond Joseph Cross MSM - 2nd Pioneer Battalion

Raymond John Cross was born in Perth WA on the 10th June 1891 to George and Ann Cross. He was one of several siblings, with, Mary 1880, George 1881, Dulcie 1883, Lawence 1885, Percival 1887, Violet 1889, Hubert 1892, Mary 1893, Clarence 1899 and Anne 1902.

The family lived in Barnett Street and Quarry Street Fremantle.

His mother Ann died in Fremantle in September 1907 and the family remained in Quarry Street.

In 1913 Raymond got married to Mabel Goodman and two children would be born from the marriage, Raymond in 1913 and Aubrey in 1915. The family had then moved north to Shark Bay.

On the 18th August 1915 Raymond enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force. He was found to be fit for enlistment, with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 8 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 140lbs;

Chest Measurement - 36-38 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Blue;

Hair - Dark Brown.

After his successful enlistment, Raymond was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp and was initially assigned to No.27 Training Depot. He spent several weeks here going through basic infantry training. On the 1st November 1915 Ray was then transferred to the 7th Reinforcements to the 28th Battalion AIF.

He trained with this group in WA for the next few months. Their departure orders finally came through and on the 18th January 1916 Ray and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship Medic. This ship then set sail for Egypt, reaching Alexandria on the 16th February 1916.

Ray was then sent into the AIF reinforcement camp. On the 11th March 1916 he was transferred to the 2nd Australian Pioneer Battalion. Just over a week later The 2nd Pioneers embarked for France, leaving Alexandria on the 19th March 1916. They arrived at Marseilles on the 26th March 1916.

The men were then entrained north and arrived at the Armentieres sector which is where they would have their first experience of the Western Front. They would have a few months in this sector but in July 1916 were moved to the Somme battlefield where they would take part in actions around Pozieres and Mouquet farm.

The 2nd Pioneers had to keep the communication and front line trenches as clear from debris as possible and were often working under very heavy German shellfire. Ray came through the Somme actions unscathed. He was actually recommended for the Military Medal for bravery for digging out soldiers under heavy fire but this was not awarded. 

In September 1916 the 2nd Pioneers had a few weeks at a quieter part of the front in Ypres Belgium, but by November 1916 had returned to the Somme battlefield. They would now spend the 1916/17 French winter in the horrible muddy conditions near places such as Flers and Delville Wood.

On the 5th February 1917 Ray reported ill and was sent to the 13th Field Ambulance where he was diagnosed with venereal disease. He was then transferred to the 51st General Hospital at Etaples. He had a few weeks stay here before rejoining his unit on the 13th March 1917.

On the 30th March 1917 Ray was sent to the Lewis Gun school at Le Touquet. For as well as being used on labouring duties behind the lines, the Pioneers were also used as infantry so had to be trained on items such as the Lewis Gun. He passed the course and then returned to his unit on the 19th April 1917.

Ray and the 2nd Pioneers were heavily involved at Bullecourt in May 1917 when they dug and maintained communication trenches to the positions that the infantry had captured. Ray survived Bullecourt unscathed and then in June 1917 the 2nd Pioneers were withdrawn from the front line for a well deserved three month rest period. He was then promoted to Corporal.

In September 1917 the 2nd Pioneers were sent to Ypres in Belgium to take part in the current offensive taking place there. On the 14th September Ray was detached for temporary duty with the 2nd Division Artillery on anti aircraft duty. He then returned to the 2nd Pioneers on the 2nd October 1917.

Ray then served with his unit around Zonnebeke, Broodseinde Ridge and Passchendaele through October and November 1917. He was then promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Ray was very busy during this time and was later awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his actions. The recommendation reads;

On 9th October Zonnebeke Broodseinde Ridge was blocked by fallen timber and destroyed wagons. This NCO in charge of platoon cleared the road under continuous heavy fire enabling ammunition mules to go forward. Later he was detailed to post and man 6 Lewis Guns for A.A. protection of our batteries in rear of Zonnebeke. For ten days he moved around incessantly. His guns brought down one enemy plane officially recorded and appreciably checked the enterprise of enemy airmen.

From December 1917 to March 1918 the 2nd Australian Division were holding part of the front line between Ypres and Messines.

On the 1st March 1918 while working on improving the trenches Ray was injured and fractured his radius. After treatment at the 2nd Casualty Clearing Station he was transferred to the 54th General Hospital at Etaples. He was discharged from hospital on the 26th March 1918 but then spent the next eight weeks at the base depot camp where he fully recovered. On the 27th May 1918 Ray rejoined his unit who were then based near the Somme River.

While he was here the news of his award of the MSM came through.

Through June and July 1918 the 2nd Pioneers were working from the Somme River to Villers-Bretonneux often under heavy fire. Ray also took part in the August 8th 1918 advance when the 2nd Division attacked and broke through the German lines.

On the 23rd August 1918 Ray was then transferred for a months duty to the Australian Corps School. On the 24th September 1918 Ray was then granted a fortnight's leave to England. He had just returned from England when he reported sick. Ray was sent to the 7th General Hospital on the 11th October 1918. He was diagnosed with venereal disease and remained here till the 27th November 1918. He was then transferred to the 39th General Hospital and remained there till the 27th December 1918.

Ray was then returned to the Australian Infantry Base Depot, and rejoined the 2nd Pioneers on the 17th February 1919. He spent the next several weeks in France but returned to England on the 5th April 1919. He would now wait to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home. On the 19th June 1919 Ray boarded the ship Windhuk and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 7th August 1919.

Ray was discharged from the AIF on the 30th September 1919.

After his return from the war Ray rejoined his family in West Perth and secured employment as a storeman. In 1925 the family moved to Wellington street Perth.

In the 1930's Ray moved north to Broome and found employment as a Roads foreman but also worked around the countryside as a Bushman.

Sadly his son Raymond Cross WX3882 died in Crete in World War Two on the 17th May 1941 while serving with the 2/2 Field Park Company. Sadly his body was not found and he is commemorated on the Athens Memorial.

Raymond senior then enlisted for service in World War two. He joined the 11 North West Battalion of the Volunteer Defence Corps. He was given the service number W74766 and served from 1942-1944 in the North West of WA.

Raymond remained in the North of the state after World War Two and died in 1958 in Geraldton.