60852: Memories of James Cross
Part of a large collection relating to Jim Cross, Broadway, Worcestershire.
This is an extract of the memoirs written down by Jim Cross and his second wife during the 1980s and 1990s. Before the First World War Jim was a postman in Hereford, joining the army as a ˜sapper' in the Royal Engineer Signals in January 1915. The memoirs are based in part on Jim's diaries from 1915, 1916 and 1918, also submitted as part of this collection along with a number of other artefacts. No diary survives for 1917 “ Cross' jacket was stolen with the diary in a special pocket “ however there are memories from that year recorded in this ˜book', which Jill Cross published privately in 1995. Jill explains that:
* on pp 16, 18, 26, 33 Jim expresses his opinions about his life or his service or his comrades/superiors;
* on pp 28, 34 and 35 Jim's promotions are mentioned
* on pp 25, 27, 30, 31 the ˜horrors' of the war are included
* on pp 31, 32, 32 again, 37, 38 Jim's close escapes from injury or death are mentioned.
Part of a large collection relating to Jim Cross, Broadway, Worcestershire. Before the First World War he was a postman in Hereford, joining the army as a ˜sapper' (service number 62966) in the Royal Engineer (Signals) in January 1915. The collection includes artefacts from Serjeant James Cross' service as a despatch rider. Sjt. Cross served overseas in the 38th (Welsh) Division Signalling Company, and was later attached to Headquaters, Royal Artillery, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division.