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Auction: 21001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals (conducted behind closed doors)
Lot: 445

A regimentally unique African campaign and Great War group of eight awarded to Captain A. J. Cross, Scottish Rifles, who was wounded at the battle of Loos in September 1915

East and West Africa 1887-1900, 1 clasp, 1898 (2939 Cpl. A. J. Cross, Scottish Rif.); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal, Laing's Nek (2939 Serjt. A. J. Cross, 2/Scottish Rif.); King's South Africa, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (2939 Serjt. A. J. Cross, 2/Scottish Rif.); 1914-15 Star (Lieut. A. J. Cross, Sco. Rif.); British War and Victory Medals (Capt. A. J. Cross); Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nigeria 1918 (Capt. A. J. Cross, Sco. Rif.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (2939 C. Serjt. A. J. Cross, 1/Scottish Rif.), mounted for display in glazed cabinet with two Captain's khaki epaulettes and leather sword knot, good very fine (Lot)

Alexander John Cross was born in Bandon, Ireland on 20 October 1878 and was educated at Christ Church, Cork.

Having then enlisted in the 2nd Battalion, Scottish Rifles in February 1889 - and served in India - he took part in the Borgu expedition in West Africa during 1898 (Medal & clasp); he was invalided home at the end of the campaign.

Further active service ensued in South Africa from October 1899 until the end of hostilities, where he was present in the relief of Ladysmith operations and the action at Laing's Nek (Queen's Medal & 6 clasps; King's Medal & 2 clasps).

Awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in April 1908, Cross was discharged in May 1913, but re-enlisted in October 1914, when he was appointed a Sergeant-Major.

He was subsequently discharged to a commission in the 9th Battalion, Scottish Rifles, in January 1915 and went to France in May of that year, but he was wounded in the battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, when his battalion attacked the Hohenzollern defence lines; the unit suffered around 400 casualties, not a few of them caused by our own faulty gas attack.

After recuperation, he served in the campaign in German East Africa from August 1917 until February 1918, when he was attached to 2nd Nigeria Regiment, West African Service Brigade, and took part in the Egba operations in Nigeria in June-July 1918 (Medal & clasp).

Cross relinquished his commission in December 1919.


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Sold for
£4,200

Starting price
£1200