William Robert Ross

Rank:PrivateNumber:356550
Ship/Rgn/Sqn No:21st Bn
Name of Rgt or Ship:Highland Light Infantry
Died:16/06/1918Age:26
How Died:Died of Wounds
Country of burial:U.K.Grave Photo:Yes
Cemetery or Memorial:Timperley (Christ Church) Churchyard
Town Memorial:Altrincham
Extra Information:
Born during the June quarter 1892 in the Salford R.D. - ref: 8d/81, the
eldest son of Robert & Ellen Amelio Ross (nee Inskip).

1901 Census - Navigation Road, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 7 - born: Lower
Broughton, Lancashire.   Head of household - Robert Ross - Married - aged:
34 - occ: Plumber - born: Knutsford, Cheshire.   Also Ellen Ross - Wife -
aged: 35 - born: Market Drayton, Shropshire.  Plus  younger siblings and 1
domestic servant.

Apprenticed to his father as a Plumber.

1911 Census - 9 Navigation Road, Altrincham.   Son - aged: 19 - occ:
Plumber - born: Lower Broughton, Salford.   Head of household - Robert Ross
- Married - aged: 43 - occ: Plumber - born: Knutsford, Cheshire.   Also
Ellen Ross - Wife - aged: 44 - born: Market Drayton, Shropshire.  Plus 3
younger siblings.

Educated at the Rigby Memorial School, Broadheath under Mr. J. Child,
Headmaster.

Member of St. Vincent's Church, Altrincham, where his widow also helped
out.

WO364 - Attested into the 9th Bn, Royal Scots at Manchester on the 12th
November 1914.   He signed on for 4 years in the Territorial Force.  He had
not previously served.   Residing at 33 Navigation Road, Altrincham.  
Served At Home (UK) 12/11/1914 to 23/02/1915.  France from 24/02/1915 to
23/08/1916.    He embarked on the S.S. Inventor at Southampton on
24/02/1915 and landed at Havre on the 26th.   Admitted to 1/2 Highland
Division Field Ambulance on the 4th July 1916 with I.C.T. (Inflamed
Connective Tissue) to legs - he was discharged on the 12th.  

The 9th Bn, Royal Scots served in the 51st (Highland) Division, 154th
Brigade.  In the Battle of the Somme 1916, the Battalion moved down from
the Arras sector and reached Beaumetz on 16/07.  They then entrained at
Candas for Mericourt-l'Abbé on 20/07.  From there they marched to Méalte
and moved forward via Fricourt and Mametz to trenches near
Bazentine-le-Grand Wood on 21/07.   They then attacked at High Wood
sustaining 175 casualties, one of whom was William.    On the 22nd July
1916 he received a GSW (gun shot wound) to his leg and was admitted to the
1/3 Highland Division Field Ambulance and sent back to No.34 C.C.S.
(Casualty Clearing Station) at Daours.  From there he was sent back down to
No. 1 Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 24/07 and to Etaples on 29/07.   He
was admitted to the No. 11 Stationary Hospital at Rouen on 18/08 before
being transferred back to England on the Hospital Ship - H.S. Panama on
23/08.   On his return to England on 24/08/1916, he went straight into the
2nd Western Hospital, Manchester, where he stayed until 12/02/1917 (173
days).   On admission he was also found to be suffering from Diarrhoea and
Pyrexia (Colitis).

He transferred to the 21st Bn, Highland Light Infantry on the 3rd May 1917.
  Granted leave from 23/06/1917 to 28/06/1917 (presumably to enable him to
get married).  Granted an extension to that leave from 29/06/1917 to
02/07/1917.   Admitted back into the 2nd Western Hospital, Manchester on
03/07/1917 suffering from Gastro-Enteritis - discharged on 30/07/1917 (28
days).     Married Catherine M. Fitz-Patrick during the June quarter 1917
in the Bucklow R.D. - ref: 8a/336.   They resided at 103 Moss Lane,
Altrincham before moving to 43 Navigation Road.

Home Service from 24/08/1916 to 18/09/1917 when he was discharged from the
Army, as being medically unfit for further service.   Recorded that his
character was "Very Good".   It went on to say that he was, "A sober,
honest and diligent soldier who has served with the armed forces of the
Crown."    At the time of his discharge, he was aged: 24 years, 10 months. 
5 feet 9 inches in height.  Weighed 156 lb.  A 36/37½ inch chest
measurements.   Eyes: brown - hair: black - occupation: plumber.

MIC - states that he originally served in the 9th Bn, Royal Scots - No.
2766, before transferring to the Highland Light Infantry.  He was posted to
France on the 25th February 1915.  He was issued with a Silver War Badge.

Death reported in the 21/06/1918 edition of the Altrincham Guardian which
states that he was wounded and gassed in August 1916.   Since then he had
been in a low state of health, so he decided to go the Llandudno as he
thought the fresh air would be beneficial to him..  His death was
registered in the Conway R.D., Caernarfonshire during the June quarter 1918
- ref: 11b/578 - aged: 26.

Listed as Robert Ross on St. Alban's Vicar's typed list.

Buried on 20/06/1918 in the private family grave in Christchurch
Churchyard, Timperley, which states that he was with the 9th Bn Royal Scots
- as does the local newspaper.

His mother, Ellen Amelio died 02/02/1951 aged 85 years.

Memorials found on:
St. Alban's (Broadheath)St. Alban's - Vicar's List
Altrincham & District Roll of Honour
Broadheath Congregational Church
Similar Names