Some might call it divine providence, others would say it was sheer luck.
But for Private Sydney Alexander Cross, the reason why he was saved from death by a whisker likely didn’t matter.
New research has unearthed the incredible story of how the First World War soldier survived being shot by a sniper when the bullet his pocketbook.
The lethal projectile hit his chest but stopped halfway through the pocketbook that was in his breast pocket along with photographs and papers.
The bullet made it as far as the words from the Bible’s 91st Psalm: ‘A thousand shall fall by thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.’
After the brush with death in 1915, Private Cross, who was known as ‘Syd’, spent time convalescing at Devon country home Knightshayes Court, which had been converted into a war hospital.
New research has unearthed the incredible story of how First World War soldier Private Sydney Alexander Cross survived being shot by a sniper when the bullet his pocketbook
An article in Devon newspaper the Western News in February 1916 told how the lethal projectile hit his chest but stopped halfway through the pocketbook that was in his breast pocket along with photographs and papers. The bullet made it as far as the words from the Bible’s psalm 91: ‘A thousand shall fall by thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee’
The research, carried out by the National Trust in partnership with Findmypast, uncovered a newspaper clipping which featured Private Cross’s incredible story.
He was serving in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign when he was shot.
An article in Devon newspaper the Western News in February 1916 said: ‘Out of the welter of war there come from time to time, like gold from the flaming furnace, glories whose throbbing interest thrills and amazes us.’
It added: ‘Pte. Cross was with our brave lads on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and one day, whilst on duty at Jefferson’s Post, a stray bullet, probably from a Turkish sniper’s rifle, struck him full on in the chest.
‘In the ordinary way the bullet would have driven its silent message home, but fortunately Pte. Cross had in his breast pocket a pay book, a pocketbook and some photos and a few other odds and ends.
‘Strange as it may seem these “scraps of paper” saved his life. The bullet, having pierced the books and the photos, came to a halt half way through a testament which he carried, and inside which was a booklet of texts given him by Mrs Drury, wife of Col. Drury, of Weymouth, on the regiment’s departure from England.
‘The interest of the story does not finish there. By a curious coincidence (or do the Gods thus speak to man?) – the bullet penetrated the text book as far as, but no further than the following text: A thousand shall fall by thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.
‘Strange message to come through the nozzle of a Turkish rifle, was it not? “A thousand shall fall by thy side.” They did. “But it shall not come nigh thee.” It didn’t.
‘The bullet simply made a dent after the word “side” and checked its career.’
Private Cross’s story is part of a new display throwing light on the soldiers, nurses, family and staff who were at Knightshayes Court, which served as a Voluntary Aid Detachment (VAD) hospital during the First World War.
Private Cross was born in in April 1896 and served in several British regiments during the war.
Private Cross is seen holding the pocketbook that saved his life by stopping a Turkish sniper’s bullet
The research carried out by the National Trust and Findmypast uncovered Private Cross’s military record
He returned to the front from Knightshayes in 1917 but was later discharged following a bout of malaria.
Data from the 1921 census reveals he later married wife Elizabeth and went on to work as a steward for the Cunard Shipping Company.
Later records reveal that in 1926 he was serving as a dining car attendant on the railways. By the time of the 1939 Register he was a water in Battersea, south London.
Private Cross was not the only soldier recovering at Knightshayes who made the newspapers after a remarkable escape.
After the brush with death in 1915, Private Cross, who was known as ‘Syd’, spent time convalescing at Devon country home Knightshayes Court, which had been converted into a war hospital
Described in the same Western News article as “a story of modern miracles”, Corporal Cooper from the South Staffordshire Regiment was wounded by a shrapnel shell which burst over his trench in Belgium in 1915, leaving him with 119 wounds.
He also went on to recuperate at Knightshayes.
The property, which was built for the Heathcote-Amory family, also served as a convalescent home for US troops in the Second World War.
The lavish listed property was built in the late 19th century.
Conservative politician Sir Derick Heathcote-Amory, who served as Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1958 until 1960, was the grandson of Sir John, who commissioned Knightshayes.
Knightshayes is now cared for by the National Trust.
The Knightshayes display opens to the public on Saturday, January 20 for weekends, and then seven days a week from Saturday 10 February.
For further information and opening times see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes
GALLIPOLI LANDINGS: WATERS RAN RED WITH BLOOD
The background to the Gallipoli landings was one of deadlock on the Western Front in 1915, when the British hoped to capture Constantinople.
The Russians were under threat from the Turks in the Caucasus and needed help, so the British decided to bombard and try to capture Gallipoli.
Located on the western coast of the Dardanelles, the British hoped by eventually getting to Constantinople that they would link up with the Russians.
The intention of this was to then knock Turkey out of the war. A naval attack began on February 19 but it was called off after three battleships were sunk.
Then, by the time of another landing on April 25, the Turks had been given time to prepare better fortifications and increased their armies sixfold.
The background to the Gallipoli landings was one of deadlock on the Western Front in 1915, when the British hoped to capture Constantinople
n and New Zealand troops won a bridgehead at what became known as Anzac Cove as the British aimed to land at five points in Cape Helles – but only managed three.
The British still required reinforcements in these areas and the Turkish were able to bring extra troops onto the peninsula to better defend themselves.
A standstill continued through the summer in hot and filthy conditions, and the campaign was eventually ended by the War Council in winter 1915/16.
The invasion had been intended to knock Turkey out of the war, but in the end it only gave the Russians some breathing space from the Turks.
Anzac Cove became a focus for n pride after forces were stuck there in squalid conditions for eight months, defending the area from the Turks.
The Anzac soldiers who arrived on the narrow strip of beach were faced with a difficult environment of steep cliffs and ridges – and almost daily shelling.
At the height of the fighting during the landings of April 25, 1915, the waters around the peninsula were stained red with blood at one point 150ft out.
Fierce resistance from the under-rated Ottoman forces, inhospitable terrain and bungled planning spelt disaster for the campaign.
Six Victoria Crosses (VC) awarded to members of the Lancashire Fusiliers for their bravery at Gallipoli during World War One are set to be displayed together for the first time next year to commemorate 100 years since the famous victory.
Collectively the medals became known as the ‘six VCs before breakfast’ after they were awarded in recognition of the gallantry and bravery shown by the men of the 1st Battalion while many in Britain were still asleep.