Revealed: Amazing story of biblical passage in squaddie’s pocketbook that saved his life when it stopped a First World War sniper’s bullet

Some might call it divine providence, others would say it was pure luck.

But for Private Sydney Alexander Cross, the reason why he was saved from death by a whisker probably didn’t matter.

New research has uncovered the incredible story of how the First World War soldier survived being shot by a sniper when the bullet hit his wallet.

The deadly projectile hit his chest, but stopped halfway into the wallet that was in his breast pocket along with photos and papers.

The bullet reached the words of the Bible’s 91st Psalm: “A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.”

After death in 1915, Private Cross, who was known as ‘Syd’, spent time recuperating at Knightshayes Court country house in Devon, which had been converted into a war hospital.

An article in Devon’s Western News newspaper in February 1916 told how the fatal projectile hit his chest, but halfway through he put the wallet in his breast pocket, along with photographs and papers. The bullet reached the words of Psalm 91 of the Bible: “A thousand will fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it won’t come near you’

The research, carried out by the National Trust in partnership with Findmypast, uncovered a newspaper cutting detailing the incredible story of Private Cross.

He was serving in the ill-fated Gallipoli campaign when he was shot.

An article in the Devon newspaper Western News in February 1916 stated: ‘Out of the chaos of war, like gold from the flaming furnace, emerge from time to time glories whose throbbing interest moves and amazes us.’

It added: “Pte. Cross was with our brave boys on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and one day while on duty at Jefferson’s Post a stray bullet, probably from a Turkish sniper rifle, hit him full in the chest.

“In the usual way the bullet would have conveyed its silent message, but luckily Pte. Cross had in his breast pocket a pay book, a wallet and a few photos and a few other odds and ends.

‘Strange as it may seem, these ‘pieces of paper’ saved his life. The bullet, which had pierced the books and the photographs, was stopped half-way by a will which he was carrying, in which was a booklet containing texts given to him by Mrs. Drury, wife of Colonel Drury, of Weymouth, about the regiment’s forces. departure from England.

‘The importance of the story doesn’t end there. By a strange coincidence (or is that how the Gods speak to man?) – the bullet penetrated the textbook up to, but not beyond, the following text: A thousand shall fall at your side, and ten thousand at your right hand; but it will not come near you.

‘Strange message to come through the nozzle of a Turkish gun, isn’t it? “A thousand will fall at your side.” They did. “But it won’t come near you.” That didn’t happen.

“The bullet simply made a dent after the word ‘side’ and stopped his career.”

The story of Private Cross is part of a new exhibition that sheds light on the soldiers, nurses, family and staff who found themselves at Knightshayes Court, which served as a Volunteer Aid Detachment (VAD) hospital during the First World War.

Private Cross was born in Australia in April 1896 and served in several British regiments during the war.

Private Cross is seen holding the wallet that saved his life by stopping a Turkish sniper’s bullet

The investigation 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 after a bout of malaria.

Records from the 1921 census show that he later married his wife Elizabeth and went to work as a steward for the Cunard Shipping Company.

Later records show that he served as a railroad dining car attendant in 1926. By the time of the 1939 register he was a waterman in Battersea, south London.

Private Cross was not the only soldier recovering at Knightshayes to make headlines after a remarkable escape.

After death in 1915, Private Cross, who was known as ‘Syd’, spent time recuperating at Knightshayes Court country house in Devon, which had been converted into a war hospital.

Described in the same Western News article as “a story of modern miracles”, Corporal Cooper of the South Staffordshire Regiment was injured by shrapnel that burst across his trench in Belgium in 1915, leaving him with 119 wounds.

He also went to recover at Knightshayes.

The property, which was built for the Heathcote-Amory family, also served as a convalescent home for American troops during World War II.

The opulent monumental building was built at the end of the 19th century.

Conservative politician Sir Derick Heathcote-Amory, who was Chancellor of the Exchequer from 1958 to 1960, was the grandson of Sir John, who commissioned Knightshayes.

Knightshayes is now cared for by the National Trust.

The Knightshayes Show will open to the public on Saturday January 20th on weekends and seven days a week from Saturday February 10th.

For more information and opening hours see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knightshayes

GALLIPOLI LANDINGS: WATERS RED WITH BLOOD

The background to the Gallipoli landings was that of a stalemate on the Western Front in 1915, when the British hoped to capture Constantinople.

The Russians were threatened by the Turks in the Caucasus and needed help, so the British decided to bomb Gallipoli and try to capture it.

Located on the west coast of the Dardanelles, the British hoped that by eventually reaching Constantinople they would join the Russians.

The intention of this was to subsequently knock Turkey out of the war. A naval attack began on February 19, but 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 increase their armies sixfold.

The background to the Gallipoli landings was that of a stalemate on the Western Front in 1915, when the British hoped to capture Constantinople.

Australian and New Zealand forces captured a bridgehead at what became known as Anzac Cove, when the British attempted to land at five points in Cape Helles but managed to reach only three.

The British still needed reinforcements in these areas and the Turks could bring additional troops to the peninsula to better defend themselves.

The standstill lasted all summer in hot and dirty conditions, and the campaign was finally ended by the War Council in the winter of 1915/16.

The invasion was intended to knock Turkey out of the war, but ultimately only gave the Russians some breathing space compared to the Turks.

Anzac Cove became a focal point of Australian pride after troops were trapped there in appalling conditions for eight months defending the area from the Turks.

The Anzac soldiers who arrived on the narrow strip of beach faced 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 red with blood at one point 150 feet away.

Fierce resistance from the underpowered Ottoman forces, inhospitable terrain and failed planning spelled disaster for the campaign.

Six Victoria Crosses (VC), awarded to members of the Lancashire Fusiliers for their bravery at Gallipoli during the First World War, will 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 courage shown by the men of the 1st Battalion while many in Britain were still asleep.