Friends of the Somme - Mid Ulster Branch  
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19343   Private Thomas John Cross
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Dated added: 30/12/2015   Last updated: 11/02/2021
Personal Details
Regiment/Service: 9th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers (British Army)
Date Of Birth: 02/05/1883
Died: 15/10/1918 (Killed in Action)
Age: 35
Summary      
Thomas John Cross was the twin son of John and Mary Cross. Thomas and his twin brother Samuel were born in Drumglass, Dungannon on 2nd May 1883. By 1901 his father had died. It seems the family may have had a drapers shop in Market Square, Dungannon. Thomas received injuries to both legs at the Battle of the Somme in July 1916 and was removed to hospital in England. Private Thomas Cross was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France & Flanders on 15th October 1918. He was 32 years old. Thomas’ twin brother Samuel Cross, who was also with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, survived the war.
Private Thomas John Cross
Further Information
Thomas John Cross was the twin son of John and Mary Cross. John Cross and Mary Warwick were married on 17th March 1876 in the district of Dungannon.
Thomas and his twin brother Samuel were born in Drumglass, Dungannon on 2nd May 1883.
Family: John Cross, Mary Cross, Anna Margaret Cross (born 16th January 1878), Robert Warnock Cross (born 14th September 1879), Thomas John Cross (born 2nd May 1883), Samuel Wallace Cross (born 2nd May 1883), Mary Isabella Cross (born 16th July 1884).
It seems John Cross died on 24th July 1897 in Dungannon, aged 64.
The 1901 census does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 3 in Market Square, Dungannon, Tyrone, but does list his twin brother. His mother was a widow. It seems the family had a drapers shop in Market Square, Dungannon.
Market Square, Dungannon
The 1911 census lists Thomas John as age 25, living with the family at house 3 in Market Square, Dungannon, Tyrone. Thomas was working as a shop assistant.
Thomas Cross served his apprenticeship with Messrs R Richardson Limited, Church Street, and prior to the outbreak of war had been in business in Moy.
He had been W.M. of Dungannon Total Abstinence L.O.L. 1229 and a member of Dungannon Royal Black Preceptory No 523 and formerly connected with Moy Company U.V.F.
Promptly volunteering at the outbreak of war, Thomas Cross enlisted in Dungannon and joined the same Company of the Fusiliers as his twin brother Private Samuel W Cross.
1915
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 31th July 1915: Samuel Cross (brother of Thomas Cross)
Three privates of the Inniskillings (Gillespie, Betts and Quinn) were sentenced to two months hard labour at Ballycastle on Monday for assaulting some of the Christian Brothers and acting in a disgraceful manner. Amongst the witnesses for the prosecution were two Dungannon men, Private Thomas Harbinson, who heard Quinn boast of ‘having knocked spots out of the Christian Brothers,’ and Private S W Cross, who saw two of the brothers bleeding and went to their assistance. There was no defence other than that the outrage was due to drink, and as the military authorities have ample powers over the public houses but do not exercise it, they cannot get rid of the responsibility.
Private Cross arrived in France on 5th October 1915.
Medal card
From the Tyrone Courier dated 16th December 1915: Brothers in the Trenches
Above are photos of the two soldier sons of Mrs Cross, Market Square, Dungannon, both of whom are at present serving with the Ulster Division in France. Private Samuel Cross, 9th Inniskilling Fusiliers, volunteered in August 1914 while the other brother, Private Thomas Cross, enlisted at Christmas, joining the same regiment. Both had served their apprenticeship with the firm of Messrs Richard Richardson Ltd, Dungannon, and Thomas afterwards had been employed in Belfast, and Samuel in Moy. They are brothers of Mr R W Cross, relieving officer for No 1 district of Dungannon Union.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated 25th December 1915: Football at the Front
Private Thomas J Cross of the 9th Battalion Royal Inniskillings Fusiliers, writes:- ‘Just a few lines to let you know that we are enjoying the good old game of football out here. We had a great match on Saturday 11th December, and a prize for the winners was presented by Sergeant G Belshaw, late of Moygashel. It was a platoon match – the 5th and 7th sections versus the 6th and 8th sections. The following were the teams:-
5/7 Section: Privates James Henderson (Tamnamore, Sergeant E G Lucas (Parkanaur), Private S Cowan (Belfast), Private S Lambe (Dungannon), Private F Mason (Belfast), Private J Breadon, (Belfast), Drummer Scot (Belfast), Private Maxwell (Belfast), Private Campbell (Liverpool), Private D Ewart (Belfast), Lance Corporal A Getty (Ballymoney).
6/8 Section: Private T J Cross (Dungannon), Private Joe Beggs (Dungannon), Lance Corporal McMenemy (Dungannon), Private R Carroll (Castlecaulfield), Private R Wigton (Killyman), Private E Clarke (Bangor), Private R Hogshaw (Killyclogher), Private J Kelly (Castlecaulfield), Corporal James Anderson (Dungannon), Private W J Orr (Ballynakelly), Bandsman T Henry (Dungannon)
The subs were Private S Proctor (Coalisland) and W Gallagher (Killyman), and amongst the the large crowd of spectators were Sergeants P J Weir and J Ringland, and both of whom, I may add, are looking very fit. The match was very fast and exciting throughout, and neither the players nor spectators were troubled for the time being by the enemy or their shells. The game resulted in a win for sections 5/7 by 5 goals to 2.
1916
Both brothers had 'gone over the top' side by side on the 1st July 1916 when both were wounded. Thomas received injuries to both legs and was removed to hospital in Sheffield, England.
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 8th July 1916: Cookstown Soldiers Wounded in Big Push
Newspaper report
Private Samuel W Cross and Thomas J Cross (twin brothers), Dungannon.
Shortly after, Thomas wrote:
'The 1st July will be a memorable day. The fighting 9th's marched boldly out at 7 o'clock to jump the parapet to lead the charge. We suffered heavily as in 'No Man's Land', the Germans had the full range of us, and between shell fire and machine guns, half of us were cut off and left lying in the open for almost a day and it was a miracle we got away at all.'
From the Tyrone Courier dated 13 July 1916:
Privates Thomas J and Samuel Cross (9th Inniskillings) twin brothers and sons of Mrs Cross, Market Square, Dungannon, were both wounded. The former received injuries in both legs and is in hospital in Sheffield and the latter was slightly wounded in the face and is in hospital in France. Writing home, Thomas says :- 'The 1st July will be a memorable day. The fighting 9th's marched boldly out at 7 o'clock to jump the parapet to lead the charge. We suffered heavily as in 'No Man's Land', the Germans had the full range of us, and between shell fire and machine guns, half of us were cut off and left lying in the open for almost a day and it was a miracle we got away at all.'
From the Mid Ulster Mail dated Saturday 15th July 1916:
The twin brothers of Mr R W Cross, R.O., Market Square, Dungannon, were wounded in action on 3rd July. Private Samuel W Cross is a member of L.O.L. 1229, Dungannon, and Private Thomas J Cross is a member of L.O.L. 178, Dungannon. They were enthusiastic members of Moy Company Dungannon Battalion U.V.F., and were in business at the outbreak of war but promptly volunteered. Thomas Cross has received serious wounds in both legs.
Private Thomas Cross recovered and returned to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers.
1918
Private Thomas J Cross was gassed in the spring of 1918 and spent some time in hospital.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 20th May 1918:
Private Thomas J Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, gassed and in hospital, is a son of the late Mrs M Cross, Market Square, Dungannon.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 23 May 1918:
Mr R W Cross, Market Square, Dungannon, has received intimation that his brother Private Thomas J Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers has been gassed and is in hospital. This soldier and his twin brother Samuel W Cross of the same battalion were wounded during 5the Somme advance on 1st July 1916.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 12th September 1918: Private Samuel Cross (twin brother of Private Thomas Cross)
Private Samuel W Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Dungannon, has been admitted to hospital in England suffering from dysentery.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated 19th September 1918: Private Samuel Cross (twin brother of Private Thomas Cross)
Private Samuel W Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, who has been admitted to hospital in England suffering from illness contracted at the front, is a brother of Mr R W Cross, Market Square, Dungannon.
Private Thomas Cross was serving with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers when he was killed in action in France & Flanders on 15th October 1918. He was 32 years old.
From the Belfast Newsletter dated 28th October 1918:
Private Thomas J Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, killed in action, was a brother of Mr R W Cross, Market Square, Dungannon. He was a P.M. of Dungannon L.O.L. 1229 and a member of Dungannon Royal Black Preceptory No. 523 and of Moy Company U.V.F.
From the Tyrone Courier and Dungannon News dated Thursday 31 October 1918:
News reached Dungannon of the death in action of Private Thomas John Cross, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, brother of Mr R W Cross, Market Square. This young soldier who was a native of Dungannon, had served his apprenticeship with Messrs R Richardson Limited, Church Street, and prior to the outbreak of war had been in business in Moy. Promptly volunteering, he had joined the same Company of the Fusiliers as his twin brother Private Samuel W Cross (now in hospital in England) and both had ‘gone over the top’ side by side on the ever memorable 1st July 1916 when both were wounded. He had been W.M. of Dungannon Total Abstinence L.O.L. 1229 and a member of Dungannon Royal Black Preceptory No 523 and formerly connected with Moy Company U.V.F. His commanding officer Colonel R E Knox, in writing to Miss Cross expressing the sincere sympathy of all ranks in the Battalion said that no better or braver lad had served under him. In Dungannon Parish Church on Sunday evening Rev Canon T J McEndoo M.A. referred in feeling terms to the deceased soldier’s love of his home and said he had been informed that Private Cross on the eve of all the battles in which he had taken part had made it his duty to spend the night in prayer.
Thomas' twin brother Samuel Cross, who was also with the 9th Battalion of the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, survived the war.
Private Thomas J Cross is buried in Cement House Cemetery in Langemarck, West-Vlaanderen in Belgium.
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Relevant Dungannon Area Locations
No Location Region Location Notes Longtitude Latitude
1 Market Square (No 3) Dungannon Central Census listing in Market Square 54.504838 -6.768891
GRONI References
TYPE - B:Birth M:Marriage D:Death | GRONI | SIBLING: brother or sister | NOTES: spelling inconsistencies, etc.
Date Type Surname First name Relationship GRONI Ref Notes
17/03/1876 M Warwick Mary Parent M/1876/T1/1444/2/98
17/03/1876 M Cross John Parent M/1876/T1/1444/2/98
16/01/1878 B Cross Margaret Sibling U/1878/112/1012/11/48
14/09/1879 B Cross Robert Sibling U/1879/112/1012/12/95
02/05/1883 B Cross Thomas Casualty U/1883/112/1012/14/161 twin
02/05/1883 B Cross Samuel Sibling U/1883/112/1012/14/162 twin
16/07/1884 B Cross Mary Sibling U/1884/112/1012/15/1
24/07/1897 D Cross John Parent D/1897/112/1012/19/301 died age 64
References and Links
No Link Reference Map Doc
1 1901 Census lists Cross family Does not list Thomas as living with the family at house 3 in Market Square, Dungannon, Tyrone
2 1911 Census lists Cross family Lists Thomas John as age 25 living with the family at house 3 in Market Square, Dungannon, Tyrone
3 FindAGrave.com Photo of Private Thomas Cross' gravestone
4 National Archives UK Medal Card can be purchased here
5 War Graves Photographic Project Photo of Private Thomas Cross' gravestone can be purchased here
Dungannon District's War Dead Acknowledgements 2015-2023