According to his service records Lt Cross was back in Portsmouth by May 1928 having sailed from the China Station early in the New Year. His record also states that he spent the next 2 plus years based at the Royal Marines Depot in Deal, Kent. It is probably during this period that he met his future wife Amelia Cox, a local Deal girl. Wedding bells rang on 14 August 1930.
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| Courting, Milly (Amelia Cox) and Bert (William Cross) c1928 |
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| Walmer sea-front c1928 |
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| Wedding 14 August 1930 Walmer, Kent. |
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| Marriage Certificate |
The certificate bears the witness signatures of Henry Sharman Cox (Royal Marine retired) father of the bride and Frederick J. Cross, brother of the groom.
But it was not all romance and jollies, it was also a time of further training within the RM. An entry on his record states 'Controlled Mining Course' dated 22 June 1928 and was done at HMS Vernon, a shore base specialising in mining and explosives training. His service record states a 100% score rating and a VG (Very Good) rating for character.
Note:-
The mining course, if the date timeline is anything to go by, was done prior to his posting at RM Depot Deal.
During his time based at RM Depot Deal he also joined one of the fraternal organisations 'The Royal Antediluvian Order of Buffaloes' (The Buffs) and became a member at their Per Mare Per Terram Lodge. This of course was a Lodge within the Royal Marines seeing as the name is the Royal Marines' motto - By Sea By Land.
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| 'The Buffs' membership dated 16 May 1930 |
Promotion:-
He was back in Portsmouth by December 1930. Another milestone was reached on 16 May 1931 when Marine Cross was passed for the rank of Corporal. His service record states that he received his second Good Conduct Badge on 15 August 1931. However, by virtue of how the military machine 'works' the newly acquired rank was only bestowed upon him on 11 October 1933.
Note:
Some information on Good Conduct Badges
https://www.royalmarines.uk/threads/good-service-badges.44928/
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| Corporal - Certificate of Qualification |
The following picture shows him wearing the rank on his right sleeve and close scrutiny of the photo reveals that the rank marking has been hastily affixed on a temporary basis for the sake of the picture. Corp. Cross is also wearing his dress uniform, neatly ironed and pressed and I suspect him holding his cap in his hands behind his back. It was often the done thing that with new rank markings on your uniform, a photo would be taken without headdress (cap) in order to fully show the face - for the benefit of those at home. Promotion is important and gratifying and any young man would like to send a picture home to share the achievement - in this case to his young wife Amelia.
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| Corporal Cross c1933 probably on-board HMS Warspite |
I surmise that the photo was taken on-board HMS Warspite because his record states that he was embarked on her from 3 September 1931 until 7 November 1933.
During his service with the RM a rating was continuously given on his service record regarding 'Character' and this consistently reads VG (Very Good) throughout his career. The period 1929-1933 his 'Ability' (Efficiency) is rated as Superior, clearly indicative of a confident young man comfortable with life.
