Universities at War

Soloman was born in Darlington, the youngest son of William and Maria Cross. He attended the Royal Kepier Grammar School in Houghton-le-Spring before going on to study at the College of Medicine from where he graduated with an M. B. (2nd Class Hons.) and B. S. in September 1899.

Upon his qualification, Soloman practiced as a doctor in Houghton-le-Spring and Newcastle, specialising in diseases of the nose, ears and throat.

Soloman enlisted in 1915 and received a commission in the Royal Army Medical Corps. He travelled to Europe later that year and briefly served as the Medical Officer for the Northumberland Fusiliers, before going on to be attached to 11th Battalion Suffolk Regiment. In March 1917, while serving in the base hospital in Boulogne, Soloman volunteered to serve in the trenches where he attended the wounded.

Soloman was killed in action on 22nd March 1918. His trench had come under intense shelling causing his unit to withdraw, however he was struck during this process while continuing to tend his comrades' wounds.