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Auction: 17001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 187

(x) A notable India and Africa campaign service group of five awarded to Staff Quarter-Master G. Ross, Middlesex Regiment, late King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was recommended for the D.C.M. during the Boer War but ultimately received a brace of "mentions"

India General Service 1854-95, 1 clasp, Burma 1889-92 (6209 Pte. J. Ross, 4th Bn. K.Rl. Rif. Corps), note initial; India General Service 1895-1902, 1 clasp, Relief of Chitral 1895 (6209 Corpl. G. Ross, 1st Bn. K.R. Rifle Corps); Queen's South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Orange Free State, Laing's Nek, Belfast, Cape Colony (6209 Serjt. G. Ross, K.R.R.C.), last clasp unofficially riveted; King's South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (6209 Serjt. G. Ross, K.R.R.C.); Army L.S. & G.C., E.VII.R. (12336 C. Sjt. G. Ross, Middx. Regt.), together with Middlesex cap badge, contact marks, edge bruising and polished, fine or better (6)

George Ross was born at Grantham, Lincolnshire in August 1869 and enlisted in the King's Royal Rifle Corps in January 1891.

Embarked for active service in the 4th Battalion in Burma, he joined 'F' Company at Thayetmyo in September 1891 and was awarded the Medal & clasp, one of 61 to the Battalion. Having then transferred to the 1st Battalion, he was advanced to Lance-Corporal in January 1893 and to Corporal in January 1895, and witnessed further active service in the Relief of Chitral operations (Medal & clasp).

Next embarked for South Africa, he gained promotion to Sergeant in January 1898 and joined the newly formed 1st K.R.R.C. Mounted Infantry Company in May 1899. He was subsequently present at the battle of Talana in October, prior to participating in the defence of Ladysmith; glimpses of him during the siege are to be found in Sergeant-Major Rowat's memoirs - A Soldier Who Did His Duty - among them Ross reading I John iv and giving thanks on the town's eventual relief.

In the action at Middelburg on 23 January 1901, when Kitchener's train came under attack, Ross was one of 14 Mounted Infantrymen under the command of Lieutenant F. M. Crum. The latter's Memoirs of a Rifleman and Scout later paid tribute to his Sergeant's courage and initiative that day, crediting his fire with several empty Boer saddles; so, too, for going forward a mile to rescue two colleagues: he was subsequently recommended for the D.C.M. but in the event received a mention in Lord Kitchener's despatch of 8 March 1901 (London Gazette 7 May 1901, refers).

Having then been appointed Colour-Sergeant of No. 1 Company in the newly formed 25th Battalion of Mounted Infantry, Ross yet again distinguished himself and was mentioned in Lord Kitchener's despatch of 23 June 1902 (London Gazette 29 July 1902, refers).

A tour of duty in Crete having followed, he was posted to the 5th (West Middlesex) Volunteer Rifle Corps in early 1908, afterwards the 9th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment in the newly established Territorial Army. It was in this capacity that he was awarded his Army L.S. & G.C. Medal in AO 57 of 1909, prior to being discharged in January 1912.

Ross re-enlisted in the Middlesex Regiment in May 1918, when he was re-appointed to his old rank of Colour-Sergeant. He subsequently served at the Regimental Depot as an Acting Quarter-Master Sergeant and as Deputy Superintendent Clerk and volunteered for service in the Army of Occupation on the Rhine. On his demobilisation in August 1920, he was given a presentation tea service by the Sergeant's Mess; sold with an extensive file of copied research from which the above biographical entry has been taken; a picture of Ross appears in Crum's Memoirs of a Rifleman and Scout.


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Sold for
£800