King Edward’s School and the Great War

Frank Alan Cross, born on 2nd September 1895, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1909 as a Foundation Scholar. He lived with his father, Ambrose, a local government civil engineer, his mother, Augusta, and his older brother, Arthur, at ‘The Elms’, Alcester Road, Moseley. Arthur, who was also an Old Edwardian, served with the Canadian Royal Engineers during the war.

At School, Frank was an enthusiastic cricketer, forming part of the 1st XI in 1913, and in one match he took 5 wickets for 60 runs. He was described as “an extremely useful bowler. He seems to have learnt the value of length: this, together with his swerve and break, should take him through many a good season.” Like his father, he showed a distinct aptitude for sciences.

Frank enlisted as a Private Soldier in the 21st Royal Fusiliers (Public School), in 1914. He was gazetted to the 15th Gloucestershire Regiment as a Second Lieutenant in 1916, and sent to Mesopotamia. He was killed in action on 25th February 1917, aged twenty-one, and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.