William Cross was born in Solihull, Warwickshire on 22 September 1903, the son of Thomas and Lilyan Frances Cross (née Ramsden). He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet on 15 May 1917. After promotion to Midshipman on 15 September 1921, he served in the Battle Cruiser HMS RENOWN followed by the Battleship HMS CENTURION. Promotion to Acting Sub Lieutenant followed on 15 January 1924 and, from 10 April 1924 to July 1925 he completed his Lieutenant’s Courses. On 6 July 1925 he was appointed to the Battleship HMS MALAYA.

William Cross was promoted to Lieutenant on 15 May 1926 and appointed to HMS DOLPHIN for the Submarine Course on 31 August 1926. He served in HMS L25 as Third Hand from 31 August 1926, HMS H48 as First Lieutenant from 3 October 1927 and then HMS L18 as First Lieutenant. He joined the destroyer HMS ROWENA as the First Lieutenant from 4 December 1928 and HMS DOUGLAS from 26 November 1930. He joined the submarine HMS REGULUS as First Lieutenant on 2 August 1931.

William Cross completed his Commanding Officers Qualifying Course in January 1933 and the joined HMS H30 in command on 21 April 1933 and then HMS H28 in Command on 15 September 1933. He was promoted to Lieutenant Commander on 15 May 1934 and served as Staff Officer Operations in HMS MACKAY and then HMS CYCLOPS. Between March 1936 and May 1938, he commanded in turn the submarines HMS L69, L56 and L26. He was promoted to Commander on 31 December 1937.

William Cross died in HMS HOOD on 24 May 1941 in the action with the German battleship Bismarck.

Commander William Cross was the husband of Noreen Joyce Cross (née Edington), and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial on Panel 45, Column 1, in the Holy Trinity Church, Belbroughton, Worcestershire and in the Hood Chapel, Church of St John the Baptist, Boldre, Hampshire.