Perth's Last Lord Provost
Major Alexander Uquhart Cross CStJ TD Lord Provost of Perth 1972-5 and Royal Army Service Corps
The Man Alexander Urquhart Cross, or Alastair as he was known was born on Monday 24th December 1906 at St Helens, Brahehead Place, Saltcoats, Ayrshire, Scotland. Son of Donald an Analytical Chemist and Julia nee Ritson. His religion was Church of Scotland.
Alastair studied at Glasgow University, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1930 aged 24 and moved to Perth in 1931; becoming a teacher and Principal member of the Perth Commercial School Staff. He lived at 65 Craigie Road and did so for the rest of his life. He was also fluent in French and German and an accomplished clarinet player.
On 24th December 1936 on his 30th Birthday, he married Amy Evelyn Fyvie, a Marketing Board Typist, at the Station Hotel in Perth, the service was conducted by the Registrar, James Bridger. They had two children, Evelyn Julia born in 1940 and Donald Norman 1952.
Alastair was a keen golfer becoming Captain of Perth’s King James VI Golf Club and during 1937 enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Service Corps with service number S/76986. He was promoted through the ranks reaching Company quartermaster Sergeant and later Staff Sergeant.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September Alastair was embodied and in January 1940 posted with the 51st HD to France as part of the BEF to bolster French defences. The rapid German advance in May 1940 meant the BEF and the French had to withdraw to the coast where almost 340,000 were evacuated at Dunkirk between 27 May and 4 June. In the meantime, the HD with the French 31st Division on its right, with no armour other than the light tanks of the Lothian and Border Horse, was holding a front of some twenty-five miles south-west of Abbevile near the mouth of the River Somme. On 5 June the Germans attacked along the entire line, and ‘the long withdrawal to Saint Valéry’ began. The Division began to fall back on the River Bresle along roads often choked with French troops’.
By 8th June the HD was six miles from Dieppe with the advancing Germans in Rouen only some thirty miles away. General Fortune asked that his men be allowed to evacuate from Dieppe, but his request was refused. The War Office ruled that ‘while France still stood, the last of Britain’s troops would support her’. The Division fell back on St Valéry.
Alastair studied at Glasgow University, graduating with a Master of Arts in 1930 aged 24 and moved to Perth in 1931; becoming a teacher and Principal member of the Perth Commercial School Staff. He lived at 65 Craigie Road and did so for the rest of his life. He was also fluent in French and German and an accomplished clarinet player.
On 24th December 1936 on his 30th Birthday, he married Amy Evelyn Fyvie, a Marketing Board Typist, at the Station Hotel in Perth, the service was conducted by the Registrar, James Bridger. They had two children, Evelyn Julia born in 1940 and Donald Norman 1952.
Alastair was a keen golfer becoming Captain of Perth’s King James VI Golf Club and during 1937 enlisted into the Territorial Army, Royal Army Service Corps with service number S/76986. He was promoted through the ranks reaching Company quartermaster Sergeant and later Staff Sergeant.
At the outbreak of World War II on 3rd September Alastair was embodied and in January 1940 posted with the 51st HD to France as part of the BEF to bolster French defences. The rapid German advance in May 1940 meant the BEF and the French had to withdraw to the coast where almost 340,000 were evacuated at Dunkirk between 27 May and 4 June. In the meantime, the HD with the French 31st Division on its right, with no armour other than the light tanks of the Lothian and Border Horse, was holding a front of some twenty-five miles south-west of Abbevile near the mouth of the River Somme. On 5 June the Germans attacked along the entire line, and ‘the long withdrawal to Saint Valéry’ began. The Division began to fall back on the River Bresle along roads often choked with French troops’.
By 8th June the HD was six miles from Dieppe with the advancing Germans in Rouen only some thirty miles away. General Fortune asked that his men be allowed to evacuate from Dieppe, but his request was refused. The War Office ruled that ‘while France still stood, the last of Britain’s troops would support her’. The Division fell back on St Valéry.
Commander of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem. 1939-45 Star. War Medal 1939-45. Efficiency Decoration 'Territorial'. Efficiency Medal 'Territorial'
On the morning of 12th June, they took up a position on the high ground above the cemetery, just outside St Valéry. The 51st Division was surrounded, cut-off and was under increasing pressure as the number of German forces steadily increased. The Division surrendered and were all taken Prisoner of War.
Alastair was among those captured and considered St Valéry ‘a fiasco’ feeling Churchill was firmly to blame for his capture! He later said “The lads made an effort to maintain order, to behave like soldiers. They had their pride”.
He was imprisoned in a number of camps – Stalag 357 - XXA(1) in Torun (Thorn) with Camp Number 18690, from 8th July 1940 until 17th May 1944 and then Stalag 357 (Fallingbostel) until liberated by the Americans on 6th April 1945. During his time as a PoW his ability to speak fluent French and German was utilised and he acted as camp translator. Because of this he was not permitted to take part in any escape attempts, as it risked jeopardising any plans being made if he were captured. He would also play his clarinet during his imprisonment.
Following liberation, Alistair returned to Perth seeing his daughter Evelyn, now aged five, for the first time as she was born whilst he was in captivity. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star and War Medal 1939-45 and remained in the Territorial Army, based at Queen’s Barracks on the Dunkfield Road. He also resumed his teaching career taking over Perth Commercial School as Proprietor and Principal.
Alastair was Commissioned into the TA RASC as 2nd Lieutenant on 7th December 1948 with service number 401647. He was promoted to Lieutenant the same day, Captain on 1st August 1950 and Major 5th June 1956 aged 50. In Army Order 115 of 1955 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, possibly as a late claim for his war time service and engraved as Staff Sergeant. He retired from the RASC on 31st October 1959 aged 54, retaining the rank of Major. In February 1960 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ appearing in the London Gazette of 19th January 1960.
Alastair was among those captured and considered St Valéry ‘a fiasco’ feeling Churchill was firmly to blame for his capture! He later said “The lads made an effort to maintain order, to behave like soldiers. They had their pride”.
He was imprisoned in a number of camps – Stalag 357 - XXA(1) in Torun (Thorn) with Camp Number 18690, from 8th July 1940 until 17th May 1944 and then Stalag 357 (Fallingbostel) until liberated by the Americans on 6th April 1945. During his time as a PoW his ability to speak fluent French and German was utilised and he acted as camp translator. Because of this he was not permitted to take part in any escape attempts, as it risked jeopardising any plans being made if he were captured. He would also play his clarinet during his imprisonment.
Following liberation, Alistair returned to Perth seeing his daughter Evelyn, now aged five, for the first time as she was born whilst he was in captivity. He was awarded the 1939-45 Star and War Medal 1939-45 and remained in the Territorial Army, based at Queen’s Barracks on the Dunkfield Road. He also resumed his teaching career taking over Perth Commercial School as Proprietor and Principal.
Alastair was Commissioned into the TA RASC as 2nd Lieutenant on 7th December 1948 with service number 401647. He was promoted to Lieutenant the same day, Captain on 1st August 1950 and Major 5th June 1956 aged 50. In Army Order 115 of 1955 he was awarded the Efficiency Medal ‘Territorial’, possibly as a late claim for his war time service and engraved as Staff Sergeant. He retired from the RASC on 31st October 1959 aged 54, retaining the rank of Major. In February 1960 he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration ‘Territorial’ appearing in the London Gazette of 19th January 1960.
Alastair was still living at 6 Craigie Road, Perth with Amy and in 1963 elected to Perth City Council representing Craigie Ward as an Independent, believing his allegiance was to the people and not a particular party. He held a number of offices in Perth including, membership of The Saltire Society, Chairman of the local Samaritans, member of the Tourist Association Executive Board, board member of the Technical College, Perth Theatre, East of Scotland Water Board, Perthshire Art Association and Chairman of Bell’s Sports Centre.
He retired from teaching in in 1971 aged 65 and in May 1972 elected as Lord Provost of Perth, a position he held until 1975 when the new Perth and Kinross District Council was formed under the Local Government Act (Scotland) 1973, removing the title of Lord from Provost. He was also appointed as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant and honorary Sheriff of Perthshire and appointed as an Officer Brother of the Order of St John in the London Gazette of 30th January 1975 and promoted to Commander in the LG of 11th May 1981.
Alastair died Monday 21st December 1992 aged 85. His funeral service took place on what would have been his 86th Birthday, at 1300h on Thursday 24th December 1992 at St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street, where he had been an active member for many years; the book of remembrance subsequently being dedicated in his name. He was cremated and Amy died eight years later in 2000 also aged 85.
Interestingly, Alastair was born, married and had his funeral service, all on 24th December.
He retired from teaching in in 1971 aged 65 and in May 1972 elected as Lord Provost of Perth, a position he held until 1975 when the new Perth and Kinross District Council was formed under the Local Government Act (Scotland) 1973, removing the title of Lord from Provost. He was also appointed as a Deputy Lord Lieutenant and honorary Sheriff of Perthshire and appointed as an Officer Brother of the Order of St John in the London Gazette of 30th January 1975 and promoted to Commander in the LG of 11th May 1981.
Alastair died Monday 21st December 1992 aged 85. His funeral service took place on what would have been his 86th Birthday, at 1300h on Thursday 24th December 1992 at St John’s Episcopal Church, Princes Street, where he had been an active member for many years; the book of remembrance subsequently being dedicated in his name. He was cremated and Amy died eight years later in 2000 also aged 85.
Interestingly, Alastair was born, married and had his funeral service, all on 24th December.
The Story The medal group awarded to Alexander Urquhart Cross were acquired from Norman W Collet Medals on 24th July 2021, having been pondered for a long time. They were of interest because of the unusual combination of medals - having been a Prisoner of War, the Efficiency Decoration and Medal combination (both EIIR), the first such in this collection and the fact he had been Lord Provost of Perth.
Quite a lot of research came with the medals and the usual trawl of Ancestry.UK and Scotland’s People helped embellish the detail, together with the acquisition of Alexander Cross’ picture from historical newspaper archives.
Just a few weeks following their acquisition, Alastair's Grandson made contact via this web site, very kindly providing some additional personal detail to add to the biography and enabling the human touch to be included.
An interesting group to a man who was dedicated to his country and home city of Perth all his life.
Quite a lot of research came with the medals and the usual trawl of Ancestry.UK and Scotland’s People helped embellish the detail, together with the acquisition of Alexander Cross’ picture from historical newspaper archives.
Just a few weeks following their acquisition, Alastair's Grandson made contact via this web site, very kindly providing some additional personal detail to add to the biography and enabling the human touch to be included.
An interesting group to a man who was dedicated to his country and home city of Perth all his life.
Medal Details:
- Commander of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- 1939-45 Star: Unnamed as awarded.
- War Medal 1939-45: Unnamed as awarded.
- Efficiency Decoration: 1960.
- Efficiency Medal: S/76986 S.SJT. A.U.CROSS. R.A.S.C.
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