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Auction: 22001 - Orders, Decorations and Medals
Lot: 199

Three: Regimental Serjeant-Major R. J. W. Ross, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, a pre-war veteran who escaped the destruction of his Battalion at Le Cateau only to be killed by a Mills bomb during a fishing expedition on 23 June 1916

1914 Star, with clasp, (9297 Sgt R. Ross. 1/Gord:Highrs); British War and Victory Medals (9297 W.O. CL.1. R. Ross. Gordons), mounted court-style for display, minor polishing and contact wear, very fine (3)

‘On 23rd day of June 1916 at 6pm I was in Company with Regimental Sergeant Major R. Ross 1st Batt. Gordon Highlanders in a boat on the canal.
The Sergeant Major produced a Mills Hand Grenade from his pocket and threw it into the water to kill some fish. Immediately afterwards he brought out another bomb which exploded in his hand as he was about to throw it. He died almost at once from the effect of the explosion.
I had no knowledge that the deceased was in possession of any bombs until he produced them from his pocket in the boat, when he remarked that he had two bombs, which he was going to throw into the water.
I have no knowledge as to how the bombs came to be in his possession.'

The testimony of Quartermaster Sergeant G. Farrant, 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders during the Inquest into the accidental death of Regimental Serjeant-Major R. J. W. Ross<, refers.R>
Robert John Waters Ross was born at Walton-on-Thames, Surrey in 1886, the son of Alexander and Rosanna Ross of Walton-on-Thames. Enlisting with the Gordon Highlanders on 22 January 1904 having previously served in the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. Entering the war in France on 13 August 1914 with 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. This Battalion was involved at the Battle of Mons and later at the Battle of La Cateau, where the bulk of them were either killed or taken prisoner. Ross was cut off from his unit but managed to avoid capture and, after attempts to re-join them near Caudry, he made it to the coast via the village of Ligny and crossed the channel to Folkstone where he reported to the Military Authorities.

The Battalion was involved in fighting at Hooge in 1915 and at The Bluff and St. Eloi in 1916, before moving to positions opposite Albert in preparation for the Battle of the Somme. While preparing for the attack Ross and two other Warrant Officers were on a boat in a canal behind the lines. Here Ross produced a hand grenade and announced his intention of using it to kill some fish, the first grenade went into the canal and detonated however the second he produced exploded in his hand. The medical examiner announced several wounds including, the most serious being that his right hand was blown away and a splinter which had entered his brain.

In the aftermath of his death an inquest was held into his death, with the primary goal of finding out where he took the grenades from. It found that he had taken them from a store set aside for training. Ross was buried at Houlle Churchyard, France on 25 June 1916; sold together with copied research including service records, the records of the inquest into the recipient's death and a photograph of his graves as well as Commonwealth War Graves details, medal roll, Battalion War Diaries and M.I.C.

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Sold for
£250

Starting price
£140