ROSS, John Edwin
| Service Number: | 1940 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 20 September 1915, Goulburn, NSW |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 6th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Wallendbeen, New South Wales, Australia, 4 November 1893 |
| Home Town: | Goulburn, Goulburn Mulwaree, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Goulburn Public School, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Railway Signaller |
| Died: | Killed in Action, France, 21 August 1917, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Vlamertinghe, Flanders, Belgium |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Goulburn District Railway Employees Great War Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 20 Sep 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1940, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Goulburn, NSW | |
|---|---|---|
| 20 Dec 1915: | Involvement Private, 1940, 6th Light Horse Regiment, Third Ypres, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Aeneas embarkation_ship_number: A60 public_note: '' | |
| 20 Dec 1915: | Embarked Private, 1940, 6th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Aeneas, Sydney | |
| 21 Aug 1917: | Involvement Gunner, 1940, Third Ypres, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1940 awm_unit: 50th Australian Field Artillery Battery awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1917-08-21 |
Help us honour John Edwin Ross's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Faithe Jones
Son of John and Fannie ROSS, George Street, Goulburn, NSW
"OUR JACK" OH WE MISS HIM BUT HOW SADLY ACHING HEARTS ALONE CAN TELL
Killed in action by a shell at Ypres 21 August 1917. Gunner Ross was very popular amongst mates and officers, from whom Mrs. Ross received many letters of condolence.
GUNNER J. E. ROSS KILLED.
It is with sincere regret that we have to report that the Rev. Canon Carver on Thursday afternoon received the sad news that Gunner John Edwin (Jack) Ross was reported killed in action. Gunner Ross, who was 23 years of age, and son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Ross, George-street enlisted in October, 1915, in the 13th Field Artillery (late 6th Light Horse Regiment), and left for the front two months afterwards. When in Goulburn he was a sigilalmnan in the railway yards. He had many friends.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
John Edwin ROSS (Service Number 1940) was born on 4th November 1893 in Cootamundra. He began working with the Railways on 19th January 1912 as a junior porter in the Goulburn District in the Traffic Branch. By November 1914, his 21st birthday, he had been promoted to the position of porter. By the following May he was working as a signalman. On 9th October 1915 he was granted leave to join the Expeditionary Forces. He enlisted in the AIF on 20th September 1915. He was 21 when he enlisted. He embarked from Sydney on 20th December 1915, on HMAT A60 ‘Aeneas’.
On 17th January 1916, he was taken on strength of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Forces in Maad (Egypt)i. After six months in the field, on 18th June 1916, he embarked from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Forces. He disembarked at Marseilles on 27th June 1916. On 9th July 1916, he was taken on strength of the 13th Field Artillery Brigade.
After seven months in the field in France, he was taken to hospital with a sore heel on 2nd February 1917. He moved around hospitals in France until 13th March 1917, when he marched into Etaples after being discharged. He re-joined his Battalion shortly after, on 31st March 1917. He had a brief period off after he was granted furlough on 8th July. However, he was back in the field by 19th July.
Just under a month later, he was killed in action on 21st August 1917. One account says of his death:
‘I know Ross was killed at Ypres… I sounded the last post over his grave’.
Another recalls:
‘I saw him killed at Ypres. He was caught by a shell and blown to pieces’.
He was buried in Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Flanders, Belgium.
After his death, his father was sent some of his personal items, such as a wallet, photos, and letters. He also received the British War Medal and the Victory Medal to commemorate his son’s service.
- based on the Australian War Memorial Honour Roll and notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board.
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