Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Completed by great grand daughter of Ross who attends Golden Grove High School

Richard Edward Ross was born on November 22nd, 1919, in Peterborough, South Australia to parents Albert Victor Ross and Janet Elsie Ross. Richard was welcomed into a family of three siblings Albert Victor Ross Jr., Elsie Elizabeth Ross, and Winifred Eliza Ross. He later became a proud older brother when his younger siblings, Laurel Margaret Ross, Keith Norman Ross, and Walter Stanley Ross were born. Richard and his family moved to the small town of Wallaroo when he was two years old.

Richard did not have the easiest childhood. As he was growing up, the world sunk into an economic crisis known as The Great Depression. Richard’s father Albert struggled to find a job, which left the family in serious financial trouble. The family frequently moved around Wallaroo as they could not afford a home of their own and were forced to rent. Aware of his family’s struggles with money, Richard understood he had to help financially. Richard delivered meals to working men in the area for 10 shillings a week – now, that is worth barely one Australian dollar. Although Richard earned very little, his help was not overlooked, showing his determination and deep love he had for his family during this rough time.

Richard showed a profound love for serving his country, which was especially evident throughout his career in the military. Richard enlisted with the Australian Military Forces (now known as the Australian Army) on January 13th, 1939. His service records show he spent time with the 3rd Motor Regiment, the 43rd Battalion and the 9/23 Light Horse Regiment in 1941, right before he was called for duty. This is especially commendable because on August 3rd, 1940, he had to get his appendix removed. After recovery he returned to his service.

On September 1st, 1939, Germany ruthlessly invaded Poland, which then led to Britain and France declaring war on Germany. The conflict between the countries expanded rapidly with Italy and Japan becoming involved. Australia joined to support Britain who was under pressure. Together, this triggered the outbreak of World War II.  Hearing about the war but not yet called for duty, the 9/23 regiment began even more intense training preparing the soldiers for duty. To strengthen their skills and build their training, Richard and his unit were sent to a military camp from October 30th, 1940 – 11 November, 1940.

On December 18th, 1941 Richard was officially called for duty and was transferred to the 2nd/27th Battalion. He was sent to fight in the South Pacific, beginning in Papua New Guinea. The conditions in Papua New Guinea brutal. Soldiers were fighting in dense jungles in extreme temperatures and were battling many diseases. On March 8th, 1942, Japanese soldiers arrived in Papua New Guinea, intense fighting began instantly. In an interview with Richard’s granddaughter, Richard recalled a terrifying experience, “I went over a hill with my mates, Dick Petch and Teddy Kemsfer, and the moment we reached the peak the bullets danced around our feet,” he said. “We ran back down the hill and laid on the ground for half an hour, then we went back and had another look.”

In 1943, Richard eagerly submitted an application to enlist in the Royal Australian Navy. Unfortunately, his application was declined, leaving him frustrated. It was around this time Richard was transferred to hospital due to an excruciating ingrown toenail. At the beginning of 1945 the 2nd/27th battalion were at the Townsville Army Base, when they were sent to the Moratai Islands. It was here that Richard suffered a severe shrapnel wound to his leg, caused by a piece of a grenade shell.

Richard continued his recovery and was soon declared ‘fit to serve’. It was still 1945 when Richard had returned to Borneo and continued the fight against the Japanese. It was during this time Germany surrendered. Finally, on September 2nd, 1945, World War II came to an end with Japan finally surrendering and Richard was lucky to be alive. He transferred back to the 3rd Motor Regiment in 1946 when he began to feel sick. Richard was diagnosed with bronchitis and was deemed unfit for service. He was discharged from the military in 1946, returning to Wallaroo where he recovered.

Richard’s service in the war earned him a total of seven medals including: Pacific Star (1939-1945); Australian Service Medal (1945-1975); Service Medal (1939-1945); and the War Medal (1938-1945). He received these medals for his combat efforts in multiple regions of the South Pacific, which show Richard’s bravery and dedication to serving his country.

After Richard’s return to Wallaroo, he secured a position at the Mount Lyell Fertilizer Works driving diesel engines. This job did not earn him a significant amount, but it was enough to live a stable life. During this time, he met Mavis Emma Schulze at the Waterside Hall dance he attended every Friday.  After a few Friday dances and gradually getting to know each other better, they began dating. Richard and Mavis only saw each other one to two times a week as Mavis had a strict curfew of 9pm. After only eight months of dating each other, Richard knew in his heart Mavis was the one he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, despite their 10 year age gap they were madly in love. As Mavis’ father had passed, Richard went to her mother to ask for Mavis’ hand in marriage, she happily agreed. The couple took a train to Kadina to pick out an engagement ring and shortly after, Richard proposed to Mavis. The newly engaged couple bought a house on Ireland Street in Wallaroo.  On August 16th, 1947, Richard married Mavis at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Hughes Street. They started trying for a child almost straight away, but quickly ran into some complications.

Mavis had to have surgery to repair her womb, and after two years of trying, in 1949, Mavis fell pregnant. Overjoyed by this, Richard found employment working at Telecom, which has a more stable income.  Richard and Mavis welcomed their first child, Phillip Edward Ross, followed by John Richard Ross in 1952, Sharon Janet Ross in 1956 and their final child, Christopher Mark Ross, in 1959. Tragically, Christopher passed away two days after he was born due to an infection in the membrane of his lung. This was a devastating event for the family, and it took them a while to overcome this. To add to this, in 1966 Richard and Mavis’ first son Phillip tragically also lost his life in a motorbiking accident when he was 16. To cope with this pain Richard began to drink heavily and became very distant from the family, only coming home for meals. He was too scared to lose another child, so his solution was to put up walls and not face his children.

Richard was a fit man; and would regularly ride his bike around the town. He played lots of bowls with his friends and even played football at the impressive age of 84.  Richard was a very well-known and respected man in Wallaroo. In 2004 Richard devastatingly began showing signs of dementia which rapidly progressed. In 2007, Richard was admitted to the local hospital. Sadly, on February 2nd, 2007, Richard Edward Ross passed away following heart failure.  

Despite numerous injuries and medical issues, Richard Ross did not give up. He continued to serve in the military even after having appendicitis, a painfully ingrown toenail and a shrapnel wound. The moment he was well enough he returned to active service. He only left the army when he was medically discharged due to bronchitis. His Perseverance is especially commendable. Richard served in multiple ways before the war and tried applying to other areas (such as the navy) to support his country.

Reference list

“AncestrySupport.” Support.ancestry.com, support.ancestry.com/s/article/Tips-for-Reading-Old-Handwriting?language=en_US. Accessed 11 July 2024.

“Angels and Victims: The People of New Guinea in World War II.” The National WWII Museum | New Orleans, www.nationalWorld War IImuseum.org/war/articles/people-of-papua-new-guinea#:~:text=For%20the%20white%20Australian%20and.

Australian War Memorial. “Second World War, 1939–45 | the Australian War Memorial.” Www.awm.gov.au, www.awm.gov.au/articles/second-world-war#:~:text=On%203%20September%201939%20Prime.

Defense Casualty Analysis System. “Defense Casualty Analysis System.” Dcas.dmdc.osd.mil, dcas.dmdc.osd.mil/dcas/app/conflictCasualties/World War II. Accessed 29 July 2024.

Myheritage.com, 2024, www.myheritage.com/site-1659170498/ross. Accessed 11 July 2024.

“Ranks | Australian Army.” Army.gov.au, 2023, www.army.gov.au/about-us/ranks. Accessed 11 July 2024.

“RecordSearch | National Archives of Australia.” Recordsearch.naa.gov.au, 25 Apr. 2024, recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=6388292&isAv=N. Accessed 11 July 2024.

World War II Foundation. “Timeline of WWII.” WWII Foundation, 2020, wwiifoundation.org/timeline-of-wwii/. Accessed 29 July 2024.

“2nd/27th Infantry Battalion.” Vwma.org.au, vwma.org.au/explore/units/11. Accessed 9 May 2024.

Ross, Sharon, Interview, 29/05/24

Ross, John, Interview, 29/05/24

Ross, Nikki, Interview, 23/07/24

Ross, Nikki, Interview, n.d.

Sources: Photos

Virtual Australian War Memorial, “The kings and Regimental colors of the 2nd/27th Batallion”, unknown date, Photograph

Virtual Australian War Memorial, “Beginning of an attack made by the 2nd/27th Battalion in Papua New Guinea.”, 1941, Photograph

Unknown, “Richard and Mavis Ross”, Unknown date, Photograph

Unknown, “Military Headshot of Richard Edward Ross", Unknown date, Photograph

Nikki Ross, “Richard’s Medals”, 3.8.24, Photograph

Virtual War Memorial, “2nd/27th Batallion crossing the Surinam river in Ramu Valley”, 1943, Photograph