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Auction: 24112 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 474

The Great War campaign group of three awarded to Captain G. W. Cross, who was wounded in action at the Battle of Chunuk Bair, Gallipoli

1914-15 Star (Lieut. G.W. Cross. R. Lanc. R.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. G.W. Cross.), contact marks, slight edge bruising, overall very fine (3)

George William Cross was born in 1882 near Salford, Lancashire and attested as a Trooper with the 12th Lancers in 1901 and was posted to South Africa for 5 months in 1902, after which he was discharged. Upon the outbreak of WWI, Cross applied for a commission in the cavalry and in December 1914 was commissioned Lieutenant in the 6th Royal Lancaster Battalion. The next year he embarked on the H.M.S. Nova Scotia for Gallipoli where he was in charge of first reinforcements. On 15 August 1915, Cross was wounded during the Battle of Chunuk Bair when a rifle bullet hit his right foot and was soon after invalided to England on the H.S. Ascania from Malta. Doctors remarked of his condition in medical reports, 'The injury has been followed by marked neuraesthenic symptoms, restless and disturbed sleep, distressing dreams, constant headaches, loss of memory, and of power of concentration. Patient is emotional, easily depressed; complains of a constant smell of "dead men".'

This haunting quote highlights the psychological effects of war, with these symptoms attributed by the doctors not to his injury but 'the strain of active service'. In June 1916, Cross was advised to be unfit for further service and to relinquish his commission. However, he later joined the 97th Labour Company in Salonika in July 1917 and that December joined the Macedonian Labour Corps where he was given the rank of Captain and put in command of a Battalion.

He was admitted to a Greek hospital with malaria and influenza in October 1918 and embarked for home a couple of months later. Cross was finally discharged on 26 April 1919, after which he resided in Manchester and worked as a pawnbroker; sold together with copied research, including medical board documents.

Cross is also entitled to a Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for Cape Colony, Orange Free State, and Transvaal.

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Sold for
£160

Starting price
£110