J. P. Cross: Difference between revisions

Lt. Col. '''John P. Cross''' [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] is a former [[British Army]] officer and author who currently lives in [[Nepal]]. He was educated at [[Shrewsbury School|Shrewsbury]] and served in the [[Brigade of Gurkhas]] in the [[British Indian Army]] and (after Indian independence) the [[British Army]] from 1943 to 1982, most of that time in Asia. His first active service was in the [[Burma Campaign]] of [[World War II]], against the Japanese. After the Second World War he became heavily involved in counter-insurgency during the [[Malayan Emergency]] and the [[Borneo Confrontation]], and later training and recruiting.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref> He is fluent in [[Nepali language|Nepali]].

From 1943 – 1982 (39 years and 80days), Cross served in the British Army, of which 37 years 324 days were in Asia, mostly with the Gurkhas. He held the rank of Major for over twelve years and of Lieutenant Colonel for over fifteen years and, receiving an MBE, OBE, and appearing on the Army short list three times, of which one appearance is still classified.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>

1957 Cross took Staff College Entrance Examination and failed (49.8% with a 50% pass mark).  The next year he failed again as he drank too much beer before the exam, while on the staff.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>

Between 1961-1963 Cross managed to nullify the effects of what the great Spencer Chapman had instituted with the Chinese Communists 20 years beforehand in relation to the aboriginal population near the Malay/Thai border.  With ten Gurkhas, he lived on 1 Kg of rations every 5¾ days for 52 days and carried up to 128 lbs. Cross personally managed to win over the Temiar tribe from the Chinese communist guerrillas after the third long operation (the second of 70 days and the third of 80).  I was given name of 'Tata', 'Old Man', an accolade in their society. He accepted for a Malayan decoration by Malayan PM (Ali Menku Negara – the Most Exalted Order of the Realm) but the British Army awarded Cross an MBE instead for his work with the Temiar. Following this, Cross returned to England to recuperate on leave.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>

Between 1965-1968 Cross commanded the Gurkha Independent Parachute Company and operated over the border of Borneo/ Indonesia during Confrontation (in what is now known as 'in an SAS role').  Was sent on a mission to Sarawak, on the orders of the British PM, with the mother of a dead Marine who was convinced that he was alive.  He was then secretly sent up to the area of the aborigines by the Malaysian Police who did not believe what their army told them about terrorist situation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>

In 1972 Cross was warned that he would be the next Defence, Military Attaché, with Naval Representation, in Laos, so he returned to England from Nepal for training, which included 160 hours of French language and 60 hours of [[Lao language]] training.  At the end of the year he went to Vientiane and took up his duties, which resulted in watching the defeat of the Royalists by the Communists between 1972 and 1976. This was a period quite unlike any Cross had ever witnessed before, despite having been operating against the Malayan Communists (and against the Indonesians whose tactics were similarly based), and teaching about them virtually non-stop since 1948, resulting in him having spent ten years in the jungle. Cross lectured the Royal Lao Army Staff College in Lao and was asked for advice by the Minister of Defence.  For work in Laos, Cross was awarded an OBE, a most unusual event for an attaché, made even more unusual as my assistant was also made MBE. Cross was suggested as attaché to Vietnam or consul in Shanghai however neither eventuated.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>

Reaching 55 years of age, in 1980 Cross should have retired but was, most unusually, given a 2-year extension. HRH The Prince of Wales visited the recruiting depot in December 1980 and asked Cross what he intended to do after retirement and, on saying he had no idea, HRH said that he would have to find him a job.  Cross was offered both CO Gurkha Contingent (Polis Republic Singapura) and Head of Intelligence, Brunei: but declined both.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.paradata.org.uk/people/john-p-cross|title = John P Cross &#124; ParaData}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2006/05/colonel-cross-of-the-gurkhas/304810/|title = Colonel Cross of the Gurkhas|website = [[The Atlantic]]|date = May 2022}}</ref>