Pte
Andrew Ross
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 04/03/1878 |
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Place of birth: Brora, Sutherland, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Miner |
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Religion: Presbyterian |
Army information
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Country: Canada |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 13796 |
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Enlistment date: 20/09/1914 |
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Enlistment place: Valcartier Camp, Quebec, Canada |
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Units: — Canadian Infantry, 5th Bn. (Western Cavalry) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 25/04/1915 |
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Place of death: Boetleer 's Graventafel, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 37 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: Panel 18 - 26 - 28. |
Points of interest 3
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place | ||
| #3 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
Andrew Ross was born in 1878 in Brora, Sutherland, Scotland, the son of John Ross and Catherine Bannerman. Andrew worked as a miner in Canada before enlisting. It was not the first time Andrew served in the army. As a young man, he served with the British Army in South Africa and reached the rank of sergeant. He enlisted on 20 September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec. Five days later he was promoted to corporal; two months later he became a sergeant. Andrew was assigned to the 5th Canadian Infantry (Western Cavalry) and left for France on 3 October 1914. He was later demoted for drunkenness.
In April 1915, the Canadians were first deployed at Ypres. Ross' battalion was entrenched at the 's Gravenstafel. In the early hours of 24 April, a cloud of gas blew across the Canadian lines, between Keerselaere and Gravenstafel. The 15th and 8th Battalions, on the left flank of the 5th Battalion, bore the full brunt and were forced to retreat. All ranks of the 5th Battalion suffered from sore eyes and choking coughs. That day, the battalion suffered 50 casualties. The next day began rainy. From 4am onward, German artillery shelled the 5th Battalion's trenches. Another 124 men from the battalion were killed, wounded or missing.
Andrew was killed while supporting the remnants of the 8th Battalion with an assault team. According to his documents in the CEF Commonwealth War Graves Registers, Andrew was killed near Boetleer Farm, northwest of 's Gravenstafel. The body was left where he fell (Sh. 28.D.8.d.6.6.). Andrew has no known grave to date and is commemorated at the Menin Gate.
In April 1915, the Canadians were first deployed at Ypres. Ross' battalion was entrenched at the 's Gravenstafel. In the early hours of 24 April, a cloud of gas blew across the Canadian lines, between Keerselaere and Gravenstafel. The 15th and 8th Battalions, on the left flank of the 5th Battalion, bore the full brunt and were forced to retreat. All ranks of the 5th Battalion suffered from sore eyes and choking coughs. That day, the battalion suffered 50 casualties. The next day began rainy. From 4am onward, German artillery shelled the 5th Battalion's trenches. Another 124 men from the battalion were killed, wounded or missing.
Andrew was killed while supporting the remnants of the 8th Battalion with an assault team. According to his documents in the CEF Commonwealth War Graves Registers, Andrew was killed near Boetleer Farm, northwest of 's Gravenstafel. The body was left where he fell (Sh. 28.D.8.d.6.6.). Andrew has no known grave to date and is commemorated at the Menin Gate.
Sources 4
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Brora (Inverness, The Northern Times, 15 May 1915). Sources used |
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Personnel Records of the First World War (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG 150; Volume: Box 8467 - 23). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War diaries: 5th Canadian Infantry (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG9-III-D-3, Volume number: 4916, Microfilm reel number: T-10708, File number: 362). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
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War Graves Registers: Circumstances of Death (Library and Archives Canada, Ottawa (LAC), RG150, 1992-1993/314, Box 39-244; Box: 117). https://library-archives.canada.ca/ Sources used |
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1595699 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=18fe59d9-89f0-4b92-9db2-c8fee129a0f1 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/1595699 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6086048 |