William enlisted on 1st Ocotber 1914. He was 27 years old and a professional vocalist by trade - A tenor soloist (New College, Oxford). He joined the Hospital Ship "Mauretania" at Liverpool on 20th October 1915. He gained the rank of acting Lance Corporal on 5th January 1916. On 2nd March he was admitted into a hospital in Liverpool with the symptoms of Hepatic abscess and fluid in the right Pleura. After examination a large abscess of the liver was opened and drained. The procedure went well but the Pleura filled up again. William became very restless and took food badly. He eventually died at the hospital. He was the son of George and Mary Ann Cross of 47 Brereton Road, Rugeley; and the husband of Dora Victoria Cross of Stalbridge, Blandford, Dorset.