John who was born in 1899, was the son of Robert Edward Cross who had been born in Middleton, and Emily Cross born in Lund, brother of Walter, Thomas Edward, Ada, Hilda and Harold. In 1911 they were living on East End, next door to Mr. T. Oliver. Jack was still at school. He enlisted on 21st May 1917 at Beverley, and the photograph of his platoon shows a very youthful lad at the Rugeley Training Camp, on Cannock Chase. He served with 2nd York and Lancaster Regiment. The York and Lancs. Regiment raised 22 battalions during the Great War (57.000 men). Jack, as he was known, was killed during the German offensive and is buried in the Huts Cemetery in Belgium. His death was recorded on 11/04/1918. He was aged 19. He is also commemorated on a memorial tablet in the Primitive Methodist Chapel together with Frank Hayton and Harry Ezard. This plaque was re-sited in the Jubilee chapel in 1962. The memorial reads: Sacred to the memory of The following men of this church Who gave their lives for their Country 1914 – 1919 Frank Hayton, John W Cross, Harry Ezard. Lest We Forget Jack’s brother, Walter also served in the Great War, but survived.
