Lt
George Adam Russell Ross
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 28/10/1894 |
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Place of birth: Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Grimsby, Ontario, Canada |
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Profession: Bookkeeper |
Army information
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Country: Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Force: Canadian Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lieutenant |
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Service number: 783797 |
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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, 15th Bn. (48th Highlanders) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/06/1916 |
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Place of death: Zillebeke, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 21 |
Cemetery
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Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) Plot: 6 Row: E Grave: 25 |
Points of interest 4
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) |
My story
In late May 1916, the Canadian army occupied the heights east of Zillebeke. Their front line runs from the hamlet of Hooge across Hill 62 and Mount Sorrel to the foot of Hill 60. The positions between Mount Sorrel and Hill 62 were the only ones near Ypres where the Allies held higher ground than the Germans. It is precisely here that the latter planned a large-scale attack.
The German attacked on the morning of 2 June 1916, marking the beginning of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans detonated four mines at Mount Sorrel in the afternoon. Württemberg troops then overran the heights.
In haste, Canadian reinforcements were sent to the front. After an all-night march, a hastily assembled counterattack was launched. At the starting positions, confusion reigned. Hesitantly, the Canadian battalions launched the attack one by one, not knowing whether the men next to them would be able to follow. Meanwhile, it was full daylight. The fire was murderous. Only small groups managed to reach the German lines. The Canadians failed to recapture the heights, but were able to dig in at the foot of the ridge.
During the advance to the counter-attack, on the night of 2 to 3 June, George Ross, a 21-year-old lieutenant of 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry was killed. At about midnight, his battalion heading towards Observatory Ridge was shelled. George was killed while crossing the Ypres-Roulers railway line.
The German attacked on the morning of 2 June 1916, marking the beginning of the Battle of Mount Sorrel. After heavy shelling, the Germans detonated four mines at Mount Sorrel in the afternoon. Württemberg troops then overran the heights.
In haste, Canadian reinforcements were sent to the front. After an all-night march, a hastily assembled counterattack was launched. At the starting positions, confusion reigned. Hesitantly, the Canadian battalions launched the attack one by one, not knowing whether the men next to them would be able to follow. Meanwhile, it was full daylight. The fire was murderous. Only small groups managed to reach the German lines. The Canadians failed to recapture the heights, but were able to dig in at the foot of the ridge.
During the advance to the counter-attack, on the night of 2 to 3 June, George Ross, a 21-year-old lieutenant of 15th Battalion Canadian Infantry was killed. At about midnight, his battalion heading towards Observatory Ridge was shelled. George was killed while crossing the Ypres-Roulers railway line.
More information 4
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Commonwealth War Graves Commission Database https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/490581 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=90bda97d-56d7-44c7-9504-3ad7843ef5d8 |
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Lives of the First World War (Imperial War Museum) https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/lifestory/6086248 |
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The Canadian Virtual War Memorial https://www.veterans.gc.ca/eng/remembrance/memorials/canadian-virtual-war-memorial/detail/490581 |