Ulric Cross
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Philip Louis Ulric Cross (1 May 1917 – 4 October 2013) was a Trinidadian jurist, diplomat and
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF) navigator, recognised as possibly the most decorated
West Indian A West Indian is a native or inhabitant of the West Indies (the Antilles and the Lucayan Archipelago). According to the ''Oxford English Dictionary'' (''OED''), the term ''West Indian'' in 1597 described the indigenous inhabitants of the West In ...
of
World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...
."Profile – Justice Ulric Cross".
/ref>"Justice P L Ulric Cross", The Cotton Tree Foundation.
/ref> He is credited with helping to prevent some two hundred bombers from being shot down in a raid over Germany in 1943. He subsequently studied law at London's
Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court entitled to Call to the bar, call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple (with whi ...
, and went on to fulfil a distinguished international career as a jurist across Africa and within Trinidad and Tobago. He also served as a diplomat for Trinidad and Tobago to the United Kingdom.


Early years

Ulric Cross was born on 1 May 1917, in Belmont, Port of Spain,
Trinidad Trinidad is the larger, more populous island of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, the country. The island lies off the northeastern coast of Venezuela and sits on the continental shelf of South America. It is the southernmost island in ...
, to Reginald Rufus and Maud Iris Cross."Justice P. L. Ulric Cross", Commonwealth Secretariat
Archived 5 July 2013 from www.thecommonwealth.org.
He was the second child in a family of nine."Endowment Fund for Cotton Tree founder"
''
Newsday ''Newsday'' is a daily newspaper in the United States primarily serving Nassau and Suffolk counties on Long Island, although it is also sold throughout the New York metropolitan area. The slogan of the newspaper is "Newsday, Your Eye on LI" ...
'', 29 April 2007. Retrieved 21 April 2023.
At the age of 11, he came first in Trinidad's Government Exhibition Scholarship Examination, thus qualifying for five years of free secondary education, and went on to attend St Mary's College. He was devastated by his mother's death when he was just 13 years old. His academic focus was completely derailed, and so, after completing five years of college education, he left school. His first job was with the '' Trinidad Guardian'' as a copy editor. Then he worked for about four years as a clerk to Leo Pujadas, Solicitor. When Cross turned 21, he joined the Civil Service and worked for a while with the Trinidad Government Railway. In this job, his close colleague was J. O'Neil "Scottie" Lewis."Philip Louis Ulric Cross", Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2
quoting interview in Irving Andre and Gabriel Christian, ''For King and Country''.


World War II service

In 1941, aged 24, Cross left Trinidad to join Britain's
Royal Air Force The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the Air force, air and space force of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. It was formed towards the end of the World War I, First World War on 1 April 1918, on the merger of t ...
(RAF) – being "young, adventurous and idealistic". He served with
RAF Bomber Command RAF Bomber Command controlled the Royal Air Force's bomber forces from 1936 to 1968. Along with the United States Army Air Forces, it played the central role in the Strategic bombing during World War II#Europe, strategic bombing of Germany in W ...
during World War II, attaining the rank of Squadron Leader. In June 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and in January 1945, he was awarded the
Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...
in recognition of his "fine example of keenness and devotion to duty" and "exceptional navigational ability". Cross was a member of the elite Pathfinder Force that perfected techniques for precision main force bombing. In his own words: "We did a lot of low-level daylight bombing. We flew at just 50 feet instead of the normal 25,000 feet. We dropped four 500-pound bombs. You flew in to your target at 50 feet and as you approached it you went up to 1,200 feet. You then did a shallow dive onto the target and released your bombs. The bomb had an 11-second delay, so you shot up to avoid the bomb blast. We went over in formation and we bombed in formation, but we came back independently." Cross flew 80 missions over
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and
occupied Europe German-occupied Europe, or Nazi-occupied Europe, refers to the sovereign countries of Europe which were wholly or partly militarily occupied and civil-occupied, including puppet states, by the (armed forces) and the government of Nazi Germany at ...
as navigator of a Mosquito fighter-bomber, and was the model for the black character, Squadron Leader Charles Ford, in Ken Follett's novel '' Hornet Flight''.


Distinguished legal career

After the war, Cross studied law and he was
called to the Bar The call to the bar is a legal term of art in most common law jurisdictions where persons must be qualified to be allowed to argue in court on behalf of another party and are then said to have been "called to the bar" or to have received "call to ...
under the aegis of the
Middle Temple The Honourable Society of the Middle Temple, commonly known simply as Middle Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court entitled to Call to the bar, call their members to the English Bar as barristers, the others being the Inner Temple (with whi ...
, London, on 26 January 1949. He then returned to Trinidad where, from 1949 to 1953, he was Legal Adviser to the Comptroller of Imports and Exports, Trinidad and Tobago. He also lectured in Trade Union History and Trade Union Law at the Extra-Mural Department of the
University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-speaking countries and territories in t ...
, located in Trinidad. He subsequently returned to London, and worked for some time as a producer for Talks and the famed '' Caribbean Voices'' at the
BBC The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) is a British public service broadcaster headquartered at Broadcasting House in London, England. Originally established in 1922 as the British Broadcasting Company, it evolved into its current sta ...
(1953–1957). Then his career took an entirely different turn, and he went to practise law in Ghana, Cameroon and Tanzania for many years. Between 1958 and 1960, he worked closely with
Kwame Nkrumah Francis Kwame Nkrumah (, 21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He served as Prime Minister of the Gold Coast (British colony), Gold Coast from 1952 until 1957, when it gained ...
in Ghana, where Cross was Crown Counsel and Senior Crown Counsel, and lectured in Criminal Law at the Ghana School of Law. Continuing his African journey, he served in
West Cameroon West Cameroon () was a federated state within the Federal Republic of Cameroon that existed between 1961 and 1972. It was formed on 1 October 1961 when the formerly British-administered Southern Cameroons was integrated into the Republic of Camer ...
(1960–1966), where he was elevated to Senior Crown Counsel and Attorney General, was a Member of the Cabinet, the House of Chiefs and the House of Assembly Avocat-General at the Federal Court of Justice of the
Republic of Cameroon Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon, is a country in Central Africa. It shares boundaries with Nigeria to the west and north, Chad to the northeast, the Central African Republic to the east, and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the R ...
. In 1967, Cross became a High Court judge in
Tanzania Tanzania, officially the United Republic of Tanzania, is a country in East Africa within the African Great Lakes region. It is bordered by Uganda to the northwest; Kenya to the northeast; the Indian Ocean to the east; Mozambique and Malawi to t ...
, where from 1968 to 1970 he was Chairman of the Permanent Labour Tribunal. He also served as a professor of law at the
University of Dar es Salaam The University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) (Swahili: ''Chuo Kikuu cha Dar es Salaam'') is a public university located in Ubungo District, Dar es Salaam Region, Tanzania. It was established in 1961 as an affiliate college of the University of London. ...
. Once again, Cross returned to Trinidad, this time in 1971 to serve as a High Court judge. In 1979, he was elevated to the Court of Appeal. He then became Chairman of the Law Reform Commission of Trinidad and Tobago, from 1982 to 1983, and in this position he made a significant contribution towards furthering the revision and development of the country's laws. On his death,
Kamla Persad-Bissessar Kamla Susheila Persad-Bissessar Senior Counsel, SC Member of parliament, MP (, born 22 April 1952), often referred to by her initials KPB is a Trinidadian lawyer, politician and educator who has twice served as the sixth List of prime ministers ...
, then Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, acknowledged his years spent on the judiciary of Trinidad and Tobago, saying: "Some of his judgments changed the landscape of Trinidad and Tobago."


Diplomatic postings

In the United Kingdom, from 1990 to 1993, Cross served as High Commissioner for Trinidad and Tobago at the
Court of St James's The Court of St James's serves as the official royal court for the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. The court formally receives all ambassadors accredited to the United Kingdom. Likewise, ambassadors representing the United Kingdom are formally ...
, UK, combining the position with that of Ambassador to both
Germany Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany, is a country in Central Europe. It lies between the Baltic Sea and the North Sea to the north and the Alps to the south. Its sixteen States of Germany, constituent states have a total popu ...
and
France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...
. Previously, he had been appointed chairman of the
Commonwealth Foundation The Commonwealth Foundation (CF) is an intergovernmental organisation that was established by the list of Commonwealth heads of government, Commonwealth Heads of Government in 1966, a year after its sister organisation, the Commonwealth Secre ...
in 1983.


Community service

During his final return to Trinidad and Tobago, Cross in April 1993 co-founded – with his colleague, Desmond Allum SC – the charitable non-profit organization called the Cotton Tree Foundation (CTF), that still today works with some of the most deprived communities in Port-of-Spain in order to combat high levels of poverty and unemployment through counselling, self-help, education and training projects. On his 90th birthday in 2007, the Ulric Cross Cotton Tree Endowment Fund was launched, expanding the work of the Cotton Tree Foundation to include a legal aid clinic, a community sports programme and an art and music programme. During these years also, as Squadron Leader Cross, he served as president of the Royal Air Forces Association Trinidad and Tobago Branch No. 1075 (established on 17 April 1953) from 2009 until his death in 2013. As President he was very active in running the Branch and inspired the vision to build a Military Veterans Complex for all veterans of military service on the Branch's property at 20 Queen's Park East, Belmont, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.


Awards and honours

Cross was the recipient of many awards and accolades. In 2011, at Trinidad and Tobago's 49th Independence Day celebrations, he received the
Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) is the highest honour of Trinidad and Tobago. Established in 2008, it replaced the Trinity Cross as the decoration for distinguished and outstanding service to the country. Recipients Ref ...
, the nation's highest award, for distinguished and outstanding service in the sphere of law.Keino Swamber
"Of the Highest Order"
''Trinidad Express Newspapers'', 30 August 2011.
In June 2011, the Piarco Air Station was renamed the Ulric Cross Air Station. In July 2011 the President of Trinidad and Tobago. George Maxwell Richards, presented Cross with the Heroes Foundation first heroes medallion, and in 2012 a comic book entitled ''And Justice For All, The True Story Of A Local Hero'' was published in his honour by the Heroes Foundation, in their "Heroes of a Nation" series."Heroes Foundation Features Ulric Cross"
Caribbean New Media Group, 23 December 2012.
Cross's remarkable life and career achievements are chronicled in a feature film that has won several international awards. Directed by Frances-Anne Solomon and entitled '' Hero: Inspired by the Extraordinary Life and Times of Mr. Ulric Cross'', it was first released in 2019.


Personal life

Cross had two daughters — Nicola Cross, a filmmaker, and Susan Woodford-Hollick, an arts administrator — and a son, Richard Finch, an educator who works in South Africa. Finch has spoken of meeting his father for the first time, when in his forties.


Death

Ulric Cross died, aged 96, on 4 October 2013 at his home on Dere Street, Port of Spain, where, in his retirement, he lived with his daughter Nicola."Ulric Cross dies at 96"
''Trinidad and Tobago Guardian'', 5 October 2013.
A memorial service in his honour was held at Memorial Park, Port of Spain, on 10 October 2013. Paying tribute to Cross at the service, the British High Commissioner said: "Without the help of servicemen from the Commonwealth (like Cross), the outcome of World War II would have been entirely different." On 8 February 2014, a tribute to Cross was held in London by the Trinidad and Tobago High Commission at St Peter's Church, Eaton Square, where the High Commissioner, His Excellency Garvin Nicholas spoke, saying: "Justice Ulric Cross was a man who not only served Trinidad and Tobago tirelessly, but dedicated his existence to the preservation of justice and democracy on an international scale ... His was a distinguished life, a life very well lived. Now more than ever, our society dearly needs role models like Justice Ulric Cross."


Selected awards

* Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC), 1944 *
Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...
(DSO), 1945 *
Order of Merit The Order of Merit () is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order r ...
– First Class, Federal Republic of Cameroon *
Order of Valour The Order of Valour is an order of knighthood of Cameroon. History It is regulated by the ordonnance N° 72/24 of 30 November 1972. It is one of the four orders of Cameroon: * Chaconia Gold Medal, Trinidad & Tobago, 1983 * Honorary Doctorate of Law,
University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-speaking countries and territories in t ...
, 1993 *
Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago The Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (ORTT) is the highest honour of Trinidad and Tobago. Established in 2008, it replaced the Trinity Cross as the decoration for distinguished and outstanding service to the country. Recipients Ref ...
, 2011


Papers published

* "First Instance Civil Procedure in Anglophonic Africa" (conference at
University of Nairobi The University of Nairobi (uonbi or UoN; ) is a college, collegiate research university based in Nairobi and is the largest List of universities and colleges in Kenya, university in Kenya. Although its history as an educational institution dat ...
sponsored by the Max Planck Institute,
Hamburg Hamburg (, ; ), officially the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg,. is the List of cities in Germany by population, second-largest city in Germany after Berlin and List of cities in the European Union by population within city limits, 7th-lar ...
) * "The Administration of Legal Systems in Developing Countries" (Law and Development Seminar at the University of Papua New Guinea)


References


Further reading

* Irving W. Andre and Gabriel J. Christian, ''For King & Country: The Service and Sacrifice of the British West Indian Military'', Pont Casse Press, 2009. * Val Simpson
"The Caribbean Connection".
* Melissa Sigodo
"Forgotten contributions from black Caribbeans that made Britain great before Windrush"
''Mirror'', 6 July 2023.


External links

* , Chaguaramas Military Museum.
"Philip Louis Ulric Cross"
Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during World War II – A record of West Indian volunteers who served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War (includes photographs).
Ulric Cross
by Horace Ové. National Portrait Gallery. * . Presentation for 100 Black Men at Stratford Circus in 2006 – African/Caribbean unsung heroes: Sqdn Ldr Ulric Cross DFC. * , BFI Films. "In this film, made during the Second World War by the Ministry of Information, a group of West Indians, led by Una Marson and Learie Constantine, assemble at
Broadcasting House London Broadcasting House is the headquarters of the BBC, in Portland Place and Langham Place, London. The first radio broadcast from the building was made on 15 March 1932, and the building was officially opened two months later, on 15 May. T ...
in London. They describe to listeners of a popular BBC radio series, '' Calling the West Indies'', how people from the Caribbean are supporting the war effort. Constantine speaks about factory workers, and introduces some war-workers, including Ulric Cross, a bomber navigator from Trinidad. Cross tells of his work in the RAF...." ( Stephen Bourne)
"The Passing of Squadron Leader Phillip Louis Ulric Cross, DSO, DFC"
Caribbean aircrew in the RAF during WW2. {{DEFAULTSORT:Cross, Ulric 1917 births 2013 deaths 20th-century Trinidad and Tobago judges Academic staff of Ghana School of Law Academic staff of the University of Dar es Salaam Academic staff of the University of the West Indies BBC radio producers Companions of the Distinguished Service Order High commissioners of Trinidad and Tobago to the United Kingdom Ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago to Germany Ambassadors of Trinidad and Tobago to France Members of the Middle Temple People from Port of Spain Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Recipients of the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Recipients of the Order of Valour Royal Air Force personnel of World War II Trinidad and Tobago diplomats