Mathew Philip Crosse was born on 18 May 1914 in Wandsworth, London, the son of Samuel Crosse (b. circa 1854) and Alice Edith Crosse (b. 1885). His birth was registered as Matthew P. Cross in the 2nd quarter of 1914 in the Wandsworth Registration District.
In the census taken on 19 June 1921 he was shown as Phillip Crosse, aged 7 years, 1 month, born in Wandsworth, London, who was in whole time education and living in five rooms at 62 Replingham Road, Southfields, London, SW18. His father described himself as furnace keeper.
In October 1932 he was shown as Philip Matthew Crosse, aged 18 years, of 62 Replingham Road, Southfields, on a list of candidates for preliminary law examination. In the 1935 lists of intermediate law examination candidates he was again shown as Philip Matthew Crosse, now residing at 21 Hollington Crescent, Malden, Surrey (now Greater London) and Articled to R. J. Cassels of Thames House, Millbank, London, SW1.
In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is listed as Philip M. Crosse, a single male who date of birth was 18 May 1914 and whose occupation was a journalist and who was residing in Lambeth Palace, London, SE1. He was also shown as a member of the Port of London Authority's River Emergency Service.
UK Navy Lists show that on 3 July 1941, as Mathew Philip Crosse, he was commissioned as a Temporary Sub-Lieutenant in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve and was promoted on 3 July 1942 to the rank of Temporary Lieutenant.
He married Phyllis Athene Hope-Johnstone (1907-2002) in the 1st quarter of 1941 in the Westminster Registration District, London. His wife had been born as Phyllis Athene MacDonald who had married Percy W. Hope Johnstone in 1931, but from whom she was subsequently divorced.
Electoral registers in 1945 and 1946 list him as Mathew Philip Crosse at 18 Bywater Street, London, SW3 and from 1947 to both he and his wife are registered there.
On 13 September 1957 he is shown as Philip Crosse, date of birth 18 May 1914 and married, arriving in Liverpool, Lancashire, aboard the Twin Screwed Steamer T.S.S. Columbia of the Sivewright, Bacon & Company line, travelling tourist class, having embarked at Quebec, Canada. He gave his address as 19 Rutland Street, Kensington, London, SW7 and his occupation as a public relations consultant.
UK Navy lists continued to show him as Temporary Lieutenant until at least 1958.
Electoral registers in 1961 list him at 41 Pall Mall, London, SW1 and in 1963 at Alexandra Hotel, 5/9 Harrington Gardens, London, SW7.
When his death, aged 63 years, was registered as Mathew Philip Crosse in the 4th quarter of 1977 in the Chelsea Registration District, London, his date of birth was confirmed as 18 May 1914.
He is shown as 'MATHEW CROSSE Lt, Cdr. R.N.V.R.' on the memorial plaque attached to the Holy Trinity Brompton churchyard arch, Brompton Oratory Garden, Ennismore Garden Mews, London, SW7.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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