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Auction: 23111 - Orders, Decorations and Medals - e-Auction
Lot: 612

(x) A family collection of two

Royal Navy L.S. & G.C. (Wm Ross Sergt No 2308 Plymo. R.M.L.I.) V.R., narrow suspension, some heavy contact marks and edge bruising, nearly very fine

Three: Flying Officer G. J. Ross, late Yeoman of Signals, Royal Navy, who saw action in H.M.S. Collingwood alongside Prince Albert - later His Majesty King George VI - at the Battle of Jutland

Joining the R.N.A.S. he was commissioned into the R.A.F. but was later jailed for using mess funds to cover his gambling debts

1914-15 Star (230135, G. J. Ross. Y. S., R.N.); British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. G. J. Ross. R.A.F.), polished, contact marks, pitting, nearly very fine (3)

William Ross was born at Lochgelly, Dunfermline on 20 September 1862 and enlisted on 20 June 1882 with the Royal Marines. Entering service as a Private his first posting was to the Plymouth Division on 25 January 1883. He was to serve with Bellorophon, Hibernia and Barfleur afloat and with the Plymouth and Howe Divisions ashore. Ross was later to join the Royal Fleet Reserve (18 July 1904) being mobilised again on 25 August 1914 for Great War service. He spent the war with the Plymouth Division and was finally invalided from service on 20 April 1918; sold together with a copied service record.

George James Ross was born at Stonehouse, Devon on 14 October 1886, the son of Sergeant William Ross of the Royal Marines. Raised in Scotland - around Dumferline and Airth - the younger Ross began to work with the Caledonian Railway upon leaving school as a booking clerk. Despite this Ross was destined to follow in his father's footsteps, joining the Royal Navy as Boy Class I on 14 October 1904.

He reached his majority with the guardship at Portland Hercules, later specialising as a Signalman with the same vessel on 12 December 1904. Despite serving mainly ashore during the pre-war years Ross did spend time with Victorious, Hibernia and Aboukir as well as a short stint with the battleship Impregnable.

Jutland

Joining Collingwood on 22 June 1912 he was promoted Yeoman of Signals with her on 1 October 1913. It was in this ship that the young Sub-Lieutenant H.R.H. Prince Albert was posted and they both went into action together at the Battle of Jutland. Here Collingwood was to enter the fighting with the 1st Battle Squadron, under Captain Lay.

During the battle Collingwood fired 84 rounds of 12-inch ammunition and obtained hits on the cruiser Wiesbaden, the battlecruiser Derfflinger and a destroyer.

Fortunately several accounts of the action aboard Collingwood survive including a number written by Prince Albert and from which the following extracts have been taken:

'We went to "Action Stations" at 4.30 p.m. and saw the Battle Cruisers in action ahead of us on the starboard bow. Some of the other cruisers were firing on the port bow. As we came up the Lion leading our Battle Cruisers, appeared to be on fire on the port side of the forecastle, but it was not serious.

…As far as one could see only 2 German Battle Squadrons and all their Battle Cruisers were out. The Colossus leading the 6th division with the Collingwood her next astern were nearest the enemy. The whole Fleet deployed at 5.00 and opened out. We opened fire at 5.37 p.m. on some German light cruisers. The Collingwood's second salvo hit one of them which set her on fire, and sank after two more salvoes were fired into her …

I was in 'A' turret and watched most of the action through one of the trainers telescopes, as we were firing by Director, when the turret is trained in the working chamber and not in the gun house. At the commencement I was sitting on the top of 'A' turret and had a very good view of the proceedings. I was up there during a lull, when a German ship started firing at us, and one salvo "straddled" us. We at once returned the fire. I was distinctly startled and jumped down the hole in the top of the turret like a shot rabbit!! I didn't try the experience again … '

In another letter, he added:

'We had no breakdowns of any sort. Everything worked very well; as for the men, they were quite marvellous, just as cheery as usual and worked like demons. The worst part of it was the night afterwards, we ceased firing at 9 p.m. and went to night defence until 2 a.m. when we closed up in the turrets again. We were sick at not seeing the enemy again that morning … '

Down in Collingwood's shell room, Ordinary Seaman William Macey was among those charged with delivering heavy calibre shells to her gun turrets:

'My mates were chalking the shells as they were sent up. 'Hit old Kaiser Bill' and 'Hit the Bastards', etc. The morale was good. I cannot explain to you our feelings in battle. The guns were firing away, shaking the ship. I must say I felt very scared. I could not see anything that was happening on deck. We were shut down in the shell room, watertight doors.'

Ross continued to serve with the Royal Navy after the Battle, transferring to the Aircraft carrier Campania on 31 January 1917. Here he trained as a pilot and was posted as a Warrant Officer Observer on 9 May 1917.

Joining the company of the carrier Furious on 22 June 1917 - four days before she was commissioned - he remained with her for the rest of the year. Joining the Royal Air Force in 1918 with the rank of Acting Lieutenant. Ross remained with the R.A.F. for the rest of his career, retiring in October 1931 with the rank of Flying Officer.

He appears to have struggled for work upon leaving the Armed Forces and took employment as secretary of the Officers Mess at R.A.F. Halton. This post allowed him access to mess funds and unfortunately Ross's worst instincts proved too strong for him: he was discovered to have been stealing money to cover his gambling debts while here and an article in The Bucks Herald on 6 October 1933 expands on this, stating:

'Pleading for leniency, particularly in view of the prisoner's singularly fine record, Mr. Fitzwalter Butler stated that what the prisoner desired him to put before the Bench was that he took to betting, not only on his own behalf, but on behalf of other people with whom he was associated, some of whom "let him down," losses being incurred which could not be met.'

Despite this plea Ross was clearly guilty and was sentenced to three months in prison. After serving his time he was released and - perhaps in view of his previous good record - managed to get a job as a Clerk with the Ministry of Labour; sold together with copied research including service records, census data and a copied newspaper article.

Subject to 5% tax on Hammer Price in addition to 20% VAT on Buyer’s Premium.

Sold for
£120

Starting price
£80