Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Australian Remembrance Army

Australian Private Enoch Rossi (later recorded as Enoch Edward Ross), an Australian veteran of both World Wars, is among almost 800 previously unmarked WWI veterans’ graves in Lutwyche Cemetery we have now marked with plaques in recognition of their service for Australia.

We unveiled his plaque in Lutwyche Cemetery on 16 May 2026, along with a further 185 plaques on the previously unmarked graves of Australian World War One veterans:
See Australian Remembrance Army Facebook page

WWI:
Private, 7129, 49th Battalion

WWII:
Private, V81004, 12th Garrison Battalion

Enoch Rossi was born in Finland on 08 March 1889 to Leonard Rossi and Gustava Leskinen. He arrived in Australia from London on 27 December 1915, disembarking at Sydney from the Indrabarah.
He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in Townsville, Queensland, on 19 October 1917, and embarked from Sydney, New South Wales, aboard SS Canberra on 16 November 1917.

Rossi’s casualty papers show that he became ill soon after reaching the Middle East. After disembarking at Suez, he was admitted to Government Hospital, Suez, with pyrexia, or fever, on 6 January 1918. He was discharged to duty at Camp Suez on 3 March 1918, then proceeded through Alexandria and England before joining the 49th Battalion for service in France. A later casualty entry records him sick to hospital in France on 18 October 1918; however, he rejoined his unit the following day, 19 October 1918. He returned to Australia on 6 September 1919.

A certified extract of marriage in his service file records him as Enoch Rossi, Private 7129, 49th Battalion, A.I.F., a 30-year-old bachelor and soldier living in camp at Hurdcott. On 5 July 1919, he married Ilma Paulina Keihonen, a 39-year-old spinster of 7 Cambridge Terrace, at St Mary Magdalen’s Church, in the registration district of St Pancras, London, according to the rites of the Church of England, by licence. Her father was recorded as Gustav Keihonen, farmer, and Rossi’s father as Leonard Rossi, farmer. A later Victorian marriage registration index appears to show him under the name Enoch Edward Ross, marrying Brigid Malone in Victoria, Australia, in 1926.

During the Second World War, he served again, this time under the name Enoch Edward Ross. His file records his date of birth as 8 March 1889, his birthplace as Helsinki / “Helsinke”, Finland, and his place of enlistment as Melbourne, Victoria. He was then married, with Bridget Ross named as next of kin. He enlisted on 7 October 1939 and served as a Private in the 12 Garrison Battalion. The same file also records his previous First World War service with the 25th and 49th Battalions, A.I.F. He served with the 12 Garrison Battalion, a Militia unit of the Australian Army during World War II, composed mainly of returned soldiers tasked with home defence and garrison duties in Victoria. His Second World War records show that he was discharged from the 12 Garrison Battalion as medically unfit for service. The discharge process was dated around 27 May to 3 June 1940, with later correspondence in 1941 concerning leave and discharge documentation. One note refers to his medical condition as rheumatism.

Private Enoch Rossi died on 5 June 1957, aged 68, and was buried in Anzac Portion 8, Lutwyche Cemetery, Brisbane.

After decades without recognition at his place of burial, his grave now bears a plaque commemorating his service to Australia, ensuring his name endures among those remembered for their duty and sacrifice.
His identity and dignity have now been restored.

We have remembered him.
Lest We Forget