ROSS, John Smith
| Service Number: | 215 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry |
| Born: | Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, 1875 |
| Home Town: | Townsville, Townsville, Queensland |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Labourer |
| Died: | Townsville, Queensland, Australia, 24 June 1951, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Townsville (Belgian Gardens) Cemetery, Qld Plot: Sect F, Sub 5, Row 21, Plot 151 |
| Memorials: |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Private, 215, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Nov 1899: | Embarked Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 215, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 448 notes 1st QMI embarked 1 Nov 1899 aboard Cornwall arriving Cape Town 13 Dec 1899. | |
| 23 Jan 1901: | Discharged Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Private, 215, 1st Queensland Mounted Infantry, AWM Boer War Unit Details, Murray p. 449 notes 1st QMI embarked 13 Dec 1900 returning to Australia aboard Orient arriving Brisbane 17 Jan 1901, disbanded 23 Jan 1901. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Claude McKelvey
Note- John Smith Ross also enlisted in 1917 for WW1 but was later found to be medically unfit and did not embark.
When he enlisted in 1899 in the 1st QMI and his details were published with the rank and file in The Brisbane Courier, 18 Nov 1899, he was recorded as Private J. Ross, single, Railway Estate, South Townsville. In the Boer War Service Patbooks for the 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 96, he is recorded as John S. Ross.
It is noted that the AWM Boer War Nominal Roll compiled by Murray indicates he was invalided home arriving 18 Aug 1900, but this appears to be disputed by other documents. In both his Boer War Dossier held by National Archives, and his entry in the Boer War Service Paybooks, it indicates he served the full tour returning with the 1st QMI to Brisbane where he was discharged 23 Jan 1901.
In 1917 he enlisted again for WW1 at Townsville to serve in the Light Horse (S.N. 3365), however, he was later found medically unfit and discharged prior to embarking. On his Attestation Paper, dated 22 Feb 1917, it is noted; he was born at Edinburgh, Scotland, and was 40 years 1 month of age; he was single and a labourer; his N.O.K. was his mother Kathleen Ross, Railway Estate, Townsville; and he had previously served in the 1st QMI.
John Smith Ross was born in 1875 at Edinburgh, Scotland, a son to John Ross and Catherine Ross (nee Smith). He emigrated at a young age to Queensland with the family settling in Townsville. He never married and remained living in Townsville where he was a waterside worker.
(source- AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 452; National Archives Australia- Boer War Dossier; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 1st QMI, Bk 1 p. 96; National Archives Australia- WW1 service record; Obituary- The Townsville Daily Bulletin, 25 Jun 1951, p. 2).
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