C120572 Rifleman George Maurice Cross was born on 22 December 1917 in Picton, Ontario, the son of Leslie Robert Cross and Helen Florence Davis.  He left school aged 14 after completing grade 8. He had a brother who served in the Royal Canadian Navy during the Second World War and two sisters.

On 6 Oct 1936, he married Hazel Irene Culmer in Belleville, Ontario, and they had three sons: Frederick (died aged 7), Gary (died aged 1) and Jack.

Cross was working for Mr. Edward Carter in Picton drawing (i.e. trucking) coal when he enlisted with the infantry in Kingston on 15 February 1943.  He trained in Peterborough and Camp Borden before heading to Aldershot, Nova Scotia prior to embarking for England in September 1943. He was posted to The Queen’s Own Rifles of Canada in October and continued training with the regiment for the next several months.

Rifleman Cross landed on Juno Beach with D Company on D-Day, 6 June 1944 but was killed in action on 11 June 1944 during the battle for Le Mesnil Patry, aged 27.

He is buried in Beny-sur-Mer Canadian War Cemetery, grave reference III. B. 1.