ws_ross_01a.jpg

Lieutenant, Border Regiment
Born: March 6th 1892
Died: July 23rd 1917

Age at Death: 25

Killed in action, Ypres, France, July 23rd 1917
St. Catherine's College, Cambridge (Scholar).
Son of Dr Douglas M. Ross of Brighton.
Brother to Ronald Maynard Ross (Ha./Ch. 1905-1912).

A donation to the memorial statue has been made in honour of this soldier by Shirley Waldron (Fe. 1976-78).

Obituary Brightonian XV December, 1917
W.S. Ross had a long and conspicuous School record. He entered the Junior School in September, 1902 and Chichester House in September, 1905. He had a distinguished athletic history at the College, winning his 1st XI. Football colours in 1909, 1910 and 1911, and 1st XI. Cricket in 1910 and 1911. He was in the 1st VIII. Fives in 1909, 1910 and 1911, but perhaps his most remarkable achievement was his winning his 1st VIII. Gym colours for five years from 1906 to 1911. He was one of the Editors of the Magazine from 1908 to 1911, and when he left for Cambridge in 1911 was a Sergeant in the O.T.C. He was also a School Prefect and a member of the Sixth Form. He met his death with five others while acting as Captain and inspecting his Lewis gun. We quote the following extract from a senior officer's letter: "He was such a fine boy, and so well liked by us all. We do miss him very much indeed, for we have lost a friend, a true soldier, and a very gallant gentleman. One of nature's own."

Captain William Stuart Ross
William Ross was born on March 6th 1892 in Brighton, Sussex. He was the elder of two sons, who were both killed in the war, of Dr Douglas Ross, practising physician in Brighton, and his wife Emma (nee Daniels).

While at the College Ross represented the school in the 1st XI for both cricket and football and in the 1st VIII for Fives, as well as editing the school magazine. In 1911 he went up to St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge where he was a Sergeant in the O.T.C.

On the outbreak of war Ross received a commission in the Border Regiment and served at both Gallipoli and in Egypt before, following his promotion to Lieutenant, joining the 6th Battalion Border Regiment in Ypres area on the 22nd December 1916. It was there that on 23rd July 1917 he and five others were killed by enemy shellfire while he was conducting a Lewis gun inspection as an acting Captain.

Ross’s grave is in La Brique Military Cemetery, West Valaanderen, Belgium.

Source: LEST WE FORGET PROJECT, Brighton College 2014/15

Comment