Second Lieutenant, Worcestershire Regiment
Born: February 28th 1896
Died: March 4th 1917
Age at Death: 21
Killed in action, France, March 4th 1917
Sandhurst Military Academy
Son of Dr Douglas M. Ross of Brighton.
Brother to William S. Ross (Ch. 1902-1911).
Grave reference Fins New British Cemetery, Somme.
A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Paul and Patricia Goodman.
Obituary Brightonian XV July, 1917
R.M. Ross was the youngest son of Dr. Douglas M. Ross of 12, Pavilion Parade, Brighton. He was born on February 28th, 1896, and entered the Junior House in 1905. On coming into the Upper School he entered Hampden House, and remained at the College until the end of the summer term, 1912. He enlisted in the Public Schools and Universities Brigade on the outbreak of war, but being disappointed in his hope of getting to the front quickly he entered Sandhurst and was gazetted to the 1st Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. His C.O. reports him as behaving with marked gallantry and coolness. He was severely wounded early in the fight, but refused to leave, and continued with his men and make headway against counter-attacks all day. Towards evening, seeing a sergeant practically buried by a shell, he hastened to dig him out, and in so doing so exposed himself above the parapet; he was struck by a piece of shell and killed instantly.
2nd Lieutenant Ronald Maynard Ross
Born on 28th February 1896 Ronald Ross was the son of Dr Douglas McKissock Ross and his wife Emma Frances Ross. Ronald Ross had two brothers, Lieutenant William Stuart Ross (also killed in the war) and Douglas Ross, who followed his father into the medical profession. Ronald Ross was a pupil at the school from 1905-1912 first in the Junior School and latterly in Hampden House.
Dr Ross was a successful doctor who practised from his home in Brighton on 12, Pavilion Parade. The house was one of a row of handsome Regency houses in the centre of Brighton characterised by wrought iron balconies at the first floor level. The terrace was sadly demolished in the mid-twentieth century. Ronald Ross appears to have lived there with his family throughout his life.
Ronald Ross was killed in action in France on March 4th 1917 on the Somme and is buried in Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand, Somme.
Source: LEST WE FORGET PROJECT, Brighton College 2014/15