Frederick Beswick Cross (1893 – 1959) World War I service: A soldier from Homebush, Victoria

 Frederick Beswick Cross was my husband’s grand uncle. He was born at Homebush, Victoria on 30 July 1893, the fifth of ten children of Frederick James Cross and Ann Jane née Plowright.

Fred joined the Australian Imperial Force on 11 May 1915 at Maryborough shortly after the news of Gallipoli. He was aged 21 years 10 months and his occupation prior to enlistment was labourer. He was assigned to the 8th reinforcements of the 22nd battalion.

While on service he had various spells in hospital with enteric fever (also called typhoid fever, is an acute infectious disease characterized by high fever and intestinal inflammation, spread by contaminated food or water) and mumps.

On 25 February 1917 he was wounded in action.

In the last week of Feb. 1917 the 22nd Battalion was manning a line of outposts facing Warlencourt. The 25th of February was a difficult day for the 22nd battalion. It is not clear if Fred was wounded in the morning or evening; there were two separate engagements.

After convalescence the AIF assigned him to administrative jobs in England including with the 2nd A A Hospital, Admin headquarters and AIF Kit stores.

In February 1918 Fred Cross married an English woman, Ethel Dunkley at Our Lady of Dolours Servite Church (Roman Catholic), Fulham Road SW10 (London, England). 

In July 1919 he sailed for Australia on the “Main” arriving in October.  He was discharged from the AIF in November 1919 as medically unfit – disability – enucleation of left eye.

Correspondence with Ethel’s family revealed how Fred and Ethel met:

Ethel’s closest sister, Ellen,  worked in a munitions factory during the war. She used to write notes to the  soldiers and put them in with the ammunition. A lot of them wrote back and she  had too many to deal with so she gave some to Ethel. One was from Fred. When  he lost his eye (as did his brother George) he ended up in a London hospital  and Ethel went to visit him. Both families objected to the marriage. After  their eldest daughter Peggy was born they came back to rural Victoria. Ethel  had a terrible trip out and did not always enjoy living in Australia.  

Ethel came to Australia with Fred and baby Peggy in October 1919 on the “Main”.
Departed Plymouth 29 July under Captain  H. W. N. Evans.
First went to live in Homebush near Ballarat on family farm but later moved to the city [Melbourne] because Ethel (a city girl) had trouble coping with life in the bush.

Fred and Ethel had three daughters. The oldest was born in England.

Fred died in 1959. Ethel died in 1971.

Links:

Wikitree: Frederick Beswick Cross (1893 - 1959)
Online research journal 5 May 2013: Frederick Beswick Cross (1893 – 1959) World War I service

Lest we forget Leslie (Bill) Morton (1896 - 1917)

The RSL Hall¹ of Avoca, a small town in the Central Highlands of Victoria, is not used much these days. For the time being, however, it continues to house war memorabilia of various kinds—a WW1 trophy machine gun, Honour Boards², some photographs—and the connection with veterans is maintained. One of these items, a little sad and dusty now, is a letter with an embroidered handkerchief in a glass case hanging on a side wall. It has no plaque, and the writing is a little difficult to read. 

The writer gives the date as 30 July 1917, the place as 'Somewhere in France'. The letter was from Private Bill Morton, of Amphitheatre, a small settlement ten miles south of Avoca, to his married sister Ethel. He mentions their brother John, also in the army in France, his sister-in-law Lizzie, and his Amphitheatre friend George Stoddart. 

Transcription: 

August 30.7 1917 

Somewhere in France 

Dear Ethel 

Just a few lines lines to let you know how things are and all the old Amphy Boys. 

Well some of them I think will be on their way home if all goes well. I fancy somehow John will soon be on his way home. Last I heard of him George Stoddart saw him just a day before he was to Embark for England 

(p 2) he was going to blighty on home service by all accounts. I havent had a letter from him this last 4 month or perhaps more. But some of my mates being around about the Base saw him. I had written to the enquiries office to try and get up communications again. Last note I got from there was in a rest camp they described him As Gassed Bronchitis and Deafness But dont tell Lizzie let her find out 

(p 3) it wont do to let her … too much You can tell her a little and let her find out but he is a damd sight Better off than you hear getting … and … to death 

I have met several of his Cobber who were with him as the time he was gassed. 

Well I think this is all the news for the present. I would like to now who told them that I had been cracked two or 3 times 

(p 4) glad to say I have been one of the lucky ones, in that way never had the blood draw yet But in the other way havent had a day … spell yet but looking for one shortly Well I think I must ring off as the Sencer [censor] will get tired of reading but all this he will get a headache if he reads too much. 

I remain your 

sincere Brother 

Bill L. Morton 

Leslie Morton, known as Bill, was the sixth of eight children of Thomas and Harriet Morton. He was born in 1896 at Archdale near Bealiba, about twenty miles north of Avoca. The family seems to have moved to the Avoca district from the Dunolly area about 1902. 

When his mother completed the circular for the Roll of Honour compiled by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, she stated that Leslie had been educated at Amphitheatre State School. At the time of his enlistment he was a sleeper-hewer³. He had trained as an orchardist. 

Leslie Morton joined the Army on 8 March 1916 at Ararat. He was assigned to the 39th Battalion and sailed for Europe ten weeks later. He was killed on 4 October 1917 near Passchendaele. 

His mother was told by a Lieutenant Hay⁴: 

“He was recommended the V.C for the bravest deed done on that day in capturing an enemy Machine Gun & killing the Crew. And was shot by a sniper when bringing the 2nd Machine gun.” 

Leslie Morton’s file contains some correspondence about the possible award for gallantry but notes that there appears to be no recommendation to that effect. There is no mention of Leslie Morton in the unit’s war diary but there is a narrative of the “stunt” of 4 October and it notes the capture of machine guns at Beecham Farm. 

The story of Morton's bravery is not at all unlikely and, exaggerated or not, it possibly gave some comfort to his mother. 

Leslie Morton is buried at Tyne Cot Cemetery (Plot XXII, Row D, Grave No. 19), Passchendaele,Belgium.

Leslie was one of three brothers who enlisted. 

John Charles Morton (1892 - 1957) joined up on 27 March 1916 at Hamilton. He married Charlotte Elizabeth Armstrong (known as Elizabeth or Lizzie) less than a week before enlisting. John was also assigned to the 39th Battalion and sailed with his brother on 27 May 1916. He transferred to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion in November 1916. 

John was in hospital sick from late March 1917 with influenza and again in April 1917 with bronchitis and deafness. He was transferred to Number 3 Rest Camp in July 1917. Following a medical board review he was sent to England at the end of July. (These details correspond to those mentioned in Bill’s letter to Ethel, although the files do not mention gas.) John returned to Australia 19 October 1917. 

Thomas Arthur Morton (1889 - 1965) enlisted on 23 October 1916 and was assigned to the 60th Battalion. He was wounded on 11 July 1917 and admitted to Southwark Military Hospital suffering a gunshot wound to his leg. At the time he was serving with the 46th Infantry Battalion. He returned to Australia 21 December 1917 and was discharged 2 April 1918. 

Leslie Morton has a Memorial Plaque⁵ affixed to his parents' grave in Amphitheatre Cemetery. It bears the inscription: "He died for freedom and honour".

From FindAGrave memorial of Harriet Morton
(permission granted from the photographer for reuse)

 

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<sup>1. The RSL is the Returned & Services League, an association of Australian war veterans.↩
2. These bear the names of men of the town and from settlements nearby who enlisted. Some bear names selected by school, or church, or occupation.↩
3. Cutting wooden sleepers (ties) for railway lines.↩
4. This was possibly Lieutenant George Hay. The correspondence from Lieutenant Hay is referred to in a letter of 15 February 1918 from the A/District paymaster, 3rd Military District to the Office in Charge base Records at folio 42 of NAA: B2455, MORTON LESLIE.↩
5. Called the 'Dead Man's Penny’, these were bronze plaques about 5 inches in diameter, issued to the next-of-kin of British Empire servicemen killed in the War.↩</sup>

Wikitree: 

• Leslie (Bill) Morton (1896 - 1917) 
• Ethel May (Morton) Montgomery (1886 - 1957) Bill’s sister 
• John Charles Morton (1892 - 1957) Bill’s brother 
• Charlotte Elizabeth (Armstrong) Morton (1893 - 1957) John’s wife Lizzie 
• George Henry Stoddart MM (1895 - 1934) mentioned by Bill in his letter, also served in 39th Battalion
• Harriet (Briggs) Morton (1862 - 1931) Bill's mother