| Surname: | Ross |
| Forename(s): | John Alexander |
| Rank: | 2nd Lieutenant |
| Service number: | |
| Regiment: | 17th (County of London) Bn London Regiment |
| Date of death: | 26 October 1915 Aged 33 |
| Place of death: | Loos |
|
Buried Commemorated |
Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos – III.A.12 Kingussie War Memorial |
Background
John Alexander Ross was born in July 1882 at West Derby, Lancashire son of Alexander (Civil Engineer) and Annie (m.s. Ross), Toxteth Park, West Derby, Lancashire. John’s father was born at Gaskbeg, Laggan. John was baptised at St John the Devine, Parish of Fairfield, Lancashire on 16 September 1882.
John’s parents Alexander Ross, 32, and Annie, 21, (m.s. Stephens) married on 1 August 1877 at St Michaels, Toxteth, Lancashire.
In the 1911 census John was living at 36 Fellows Road, South Hampstead, London and described as a solicitor (Railway Company). At the time of his death his parents were still living at Hampstead.
War Record
John may have been in the Inns of Court OTC which expanded rapidly in August and September 1914, as thousands volunteered for military service following the outbreak of the First World War. The Scottish National War Memorial Roll shows John under Scots Serving in Brigade of Guards and English Regiments. The unit name is shown as the Honorable Artillery Company Infantry, The London Regiment Inns of Court Officers Training Corps.
When war was declared the Poplar & Stepney Rifles Battalion (London Regiment) was training on Salisbury Plain. They returned to Bow for mobilisation and then moved to Essex to begin training. In the London Gazette of 13 February 1915 John Alexander Ross is recorded as Second Lieutenant.
John died aged 33 on 26 October 1915 at Loos. He was exhumed from Crucifix Cemetery and is now buried at Dud Corner Cemetery. He is also remembered on the Kingussie and Insh Memorial in Kingussie Parish Church and the Ring of Remembrance Notre Dame-de-Lorette.
John’s brother, Douglas also died in World War One aged 20 on the first day of the Somme and is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery, Somme.
