Birth & early life
Born at Bath on the 7th of December 1815, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Crosse of the 36th Foot, and his wife, Sarah Celia Maria, nee Burton.
His parents were married at Llanbelig, Co. Caernarvon, in 1804.
Although shown as having been born at Bath, no trace of his baptism can be found there, but there is an entry in the St. James's Church registers for the joint baptism of Elizabeth Maria and Maria Augusta Agnes, the daughters of Joshua and Sarah Celia Maria Crosse, a Captain in the 36th Foot, of Lisbon, Portugal. This took place on the 29th of January 1813.
There were eventually seven children in the family: four boys and three girls.
Lieutenant-Colonel Joshua Crosse, 36th Foot [father]
His father was born at Wootten Courtney, Devonshire, the son of the Revd. Joshua Crosse, and died at Ovals St. Cross in the parish of Lyonshall, Herefordshire, in February of 1846 of "heart failure" at the age of 69 years.
His widow was still living there when she applied for her husband's half-pay award to be allocated to her, and this was granted.
Joshua Crosse had begun his Army service in Ireland in 1878, being on the Expedition to Belle Isle in 1800 and in 1805, that to Hanover. He was wounded twice prior to and at the storming of Buenos Ayres in 1806.
In 1810 he went to Spain to command guerrilla forces there and was wounded in the head when attacking Malaga in command of French deserters.
Still in command of guerrilla forces he was in various encounters before the battle of Barrossa, where he saved the life of General Rufin, General of Division. He later served in the 6th Division at the siege of Ciudad Rodrigo and the action of El-Boden — was also at the siege of Badajos and the capture of the forts at Salamanca.
He was later employed in a confidential staff situation by the Duke of Wellington until the Peace.
Service
Qualified at Guy's and the London Hospital — and afterwards studied in Paris.
Assistant Surgeon. (Staff): 9th of October 1840.
Assistant Surgeon in the 88th Foot: 24th of September 1841.
Staff Surgeon. (2nd Class): 16th of June 1848.
1851 Census
Bridewell Hospital, London.
John B Crosse, visitor, unmarried, 36, Army Medical Staff, born Bath.
On the 22nd of January 1852, at the church of St. Michael, Chester Square, Pimlico, London, he married Emma Snell, daughter of the Revd. Charles Snell. B.A. The witnesses were Captain Edward Adair and Isobel Frances Crosse. He was then 38 and she 26 years of age.
Marriage registered
John Burton St Croix Crosse married Emma Snell, March Quarter 1852, St George Hanover Square.
Four children are known to have been born into the family:
Births registered
Florence Maude St Croix Crosse, December Quarter 1852, St Geo H SQ.
Edith B Crosse, born Dublin c.1853.
Ada Sarah Rose Crosse, December Quarter 1856, Canterbury.
Emily Beatrice Crosse, June Quarter 1858, Edmonton.
Surgeon in the 31st Foot: 18th of July 1852.
Surgeon in the 11th Hussars: 3rd of June 1853.
Surgeon John Burton St Croix Crosse, in Hart's New Army List, 1854.
(Click on image to enlarge)
Hart's New Army List, 1859.
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Surgeon Major: 9th of October 1860.
1861 Census
1, Derby Terrace, Stretford, Lancashire.
John Burton Crosse, 46, Sergeant Major [sic], 11th Hussars, born Bath.
Emma Crosse, 34.
Florence M Crosse, 8.
Edith B Crosse, 7.
Ada Sarah R, 4.
Ellen Beatrice, 3.
Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (Edinburgh): 1863 [sic?].
Surgeon Major (Staff): 25th of April 1865.
On to half-pay, and with the honorary rank of Deputy Inspector-General of Hospitals: 9th of March 1866.
Medical Officer of the Royal Military Asylum (The Duke of York's School), Chelsea, from the 9th of October 1866 to the 31st of August 1881.
1871 Census
Royal Military Asylums for Children of Soldiers of the Regular Army, Chelsea.
J.B. St C. Crosse, 55, Maj Gen of Hospitals — H. Pay, born Bath.
Emma Crosse,44, born St Georges.
[Ada] S.R. Crosse,14 born Canterbury.
[Ella] Beatrice Crosse, 13, born Hounslow.
1881 Census
Royal Hospital, Chelsea.
John B. St C. Crosse, 65, Dy Ins Gen Army Hosp H.P. born Bath
Emma Crosse, 55 born London.
Florence M.E.C. Crosse, 28 born Canterbury.
Ada S.R. Crosse, 24, born London.
Ella B. Crosse, 23, born Hounslow.
1891 Census
59, Chester Square, Knightsbridge.
John B. St C. Crosse,76, Dy Inspector General of Hospitals (retired), born Bath.
Emma Crosse, 64, born Brompton.
Ada S.R. Crosse, 34 born Canterbury.
Ella Crosse, 33, born Hounslow.
A son-in-law and three Servants are also shown.
Marriage registered
Ada Sarah R Crosse [daughter] married in the September Quarter 1897, St Geo H SQ.
Campaign service
Surgeon Major Crosse spent three years in Barbados, from March 1848 to March 1851, where he contracted and nearly expired from yellow fever. He was also in Malta from November of 1840 to May of 1846.
He served in the Eastern campaign of 1854-55, including the affair of the Bulganak, battles of the Alma, Balaclava and Inkerman, the Tchernya, and the Siege and fall of Sebastopol. (Medal and Clasps and Knight of the Legion of Honour.)
The "Record of Officers' Services" shows him as being at Malta due to ill-health, but it is not apparent just when he returned to England or when he rejoined the regiment in the Crimea, something he does not appear to have done as in March to July of 1856 he was ordered to give evidence at the Sanitary Board Hearing held at Chelsea Hospital on the conduct of the Crimean War.
However, a memo. was sent to him on the 14th of February 1856, when he was living at 27, Welbeck Street, Cavendish Square:
"Your passage to Scutari has been arranged aboard the "Thames" (steamer) from Portsmouth on the 23rd of February 1856. Please acknowledge."
Death & burial
Died at Leigh House, Surbiton, Surrey (of No. 58 Chester Square, parish of St. George's, London) on the 21st of August 1900, aged 85 years.
Death registered
John Burton S Crosse, aged 85, September Quarter 1900, Kingston.
Extract from the Kingston and Surbiton News, 25th of August 1900:
"Death of Inspector-General Crosse. Deputy-Inspector John Burton St. Croix Crosse, F.R.C.S.L. late of the 11th Hussars, died on Tuesday at Leigh House, Adelaide Road, Surbiton, the residence of his son-in-law, where he was taken ill.
The deceased Inspector-General, who was 85 years of age, entered the Army in 1846 as an Assistant Surgeon and served with the 11th Hussars during the Crimean campaign of 1854-55, receiving the Crimean medal with four clasps, the Turkish medal and the Legion of Honour.
He retired in 1866 and was for some time the surgeon to the The Duke of York's School at Chelsea."
In his will, made on the 13th of August 1897 (witnessed by W.P. Small of Belmont, near Havant, and Jenny Willers Norton of 58, Chester Square), he left:
"To my dear wife, Emma, my house, all my books, plate, plated articles, linen and china, glass, pictures, drawings, works of art, jewellery, medals, orders, musical instruments, wines and spirits, and all my household goods and furniture."
He also left the sum of £100 free of legacy duty to each of his four daughters and "I also bequeath to my daughter Florence the sum of £1,200 free of legacy duty." (She was perhaps still unmarried.)
Made probate in the sum of £14,830/15/7d, on the 27th of November 1900 to Emma Cross, widow, C.G. Matthew Donaldson, (a son-in-law and a Major in the Border Regiment, another son-in-law, G.W. Boothby, Colonel in the Fife Militia Artillery and Thomas Ligertwood, Esq., of the Chelsea Hospital Staff.
Extract from The Lancet at the time of his death:
"He was an ideal regimental surgeon — well-educated and enthusiastic in his chosen profession, well-beloved and trusted by both officers and men alike — ever watchful and painstaking in all that concerned the well-being of his regiment — a military surgeon every inch of him — a high- toned and honourable man — a kind and admirable friend...
For many years he was surgeon to the Duke of York's Royal Military School, and was looked upon by the orphan boys there as a father — so kind, careful and considerate was he of them. His services never received the acknowledgement they merited at the hands of the authorities. Many years ago a hint of a coming honour was made to him, but it never came, and he was of too retiring a nature to advance his claims. He was closely related to Sir Richard Burton, the famous traveller and explorer."
In the early part of the 1890s he became involved, through the Commissioners of the Patriotic Fund, in vetting men who claimed relief from this fund on account of their having ridden in the Charge. He wrote to many officers and men of the regiments concerned, and in one of these letters, written to
Thomas G. Johnson (an ex-ranker officer of the 13th Light Dragoons) he pointed out that he:
"feared many Batmen and others of the Light Brigade who never drew a sword in the Crimea are pushing in and will deprive some more modest men, who are justly entitled to it, of their turn.
For only a certain number yearly will get relief, and as now many survivors are nearly seventy years of age there is a chance of some dying before getting any help at all, so that Batmen and others who were non-combatants on that day ought to take their turn after the vacancies which occur by death, etc., amongst the bona-fide survivors of the 600.
Would you kindly look over this list of those who were members of your regiment and tell me if you have a knowledge of any who were Batmen or out of the ranks for other causes on that day."
Further information
1901 Census
58, Chester Square, Westminster.
Emma Crosse, 73, widow, born London.
Florence C Crosse, 40, born London.
Four servants are also shown.
Death registered
Emma Crosse [wife], aged 79,December Quarter1908, St Geo H Sq.
1911 Census
2, Cromwell Place, South Kensington.
Florence Maude St Crosse [sic] Crosse, single, visitor, 54, Independent Means, born London.
Death registered
Florence M. St C. Crosse [daughter], aged 78, June Quarter 1935, Kensington.
