Major D. G. Ross MC, RHA

It has been a while since I updated this blog, so here is information on another group in my collection:

Major D. G. Ross MC, Royal Horse Artillery

Military Cross (GVI) dated 1942, 1939/45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, War Medal.

Plus 23 (mostly named) medals for athletics - Silver "United Services Athletics" medal for Tripoli 1943, 6 silver and 3 bronze "International Track and Field Games" for Genoa 1945 (200, 400, 1500 meters, relay, cross country), Norway Gold Medal “Norrona Viking August 1947” on attractive ribbon, Silver gilt and enamel medal for Milan 1946, International 1600m, rugby tournament shield (x2), silver spoon for London Harriers Racing Club, patch of participation in the the “British Empire Vs. USA” games of 1952 etc.

David Gowers Ross came from Harwich, which is a busy coastal town and international port located on the estuary of the rivers Stour and Orwell in northeast Essex, England. The town is a historically important port which has provided a sheltered anchorage for shipping through the ages.

He was commissioned into the RA and given the army number 182093.

He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery in action in July 1942, North Africa, an action which spelled the end to Rommel’s final offensive. At the time he was serving with 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery under Lieutenant Colonel J.A. Akroyd-Hunt which formed part of the 22nd (Light) Armoured Brigade, 7th Armoured Division. His recommendation reads:

“On 3rd July 1942 2/ Lieut. Ross had a troop of A/T guns in action with “M” Battery RHA in the Wadi North of Pt. 64 on Ruweisat Ridge. The Battery was engaged by some MKIV tanks and had to withdraw.

One portee towing a 6-pdr. was hit and went on fire and a 15-cwt towing another 6-pdr. stuck in the soft sand. While the battery was withdrawing 2/Lt. Ross, who had just arrived up from the rear with some vehicles that had stuck during the advance, went straight forward 1000 (yards) under fire and got the gun which was stuck out of action and brought it back; he then went out a second time to the burning portee coming under 75mm and small arms fire in order to try to get the second gun back. He stayed there under heavy fire trying to recover the gun but finally had to give it up as the 6-pdr. ammunition started to explode. (The gun was recovered later in the day).”

His MC was approved by Montgomery (as Lieutenant General of the 8th Army) and Alexander (as General Commander-in-Chief, Middle East Forces) and was published in the London Gazette of Tuesday 22 September 1942 “... in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East”.

The 3rd Battery, RHA had only just joined “Robcol”[1] on the day that Ross was awarded his Military Cross. During the first few days of July Robcol had, according to Brigadier R. P. Waller DSO MC and Lieutenant Colonel A. H. E. Howell DSO in their account “Who Stopped Rommel?” been instrumental in putting a stop to Rommels advance on Alexandria:

“They (11th Regiment RA – ed) held the Ridge till nightfall. Not alone – the men of the 1st/4th Essex were with them from the start; and in the late afternoon a seven-gun HAC Battery (all that they could muster out of 24, but invaluable support), while 22 Armoured Brigade and their accompanying RHA (3rd RHA – ed) came up to cover the left flank… In the gathering dusk the enemy made his last effort. It was broken, though tanks got for some critical minutes within a few yards of our forward guns, and as night fell Axis armour drew off and the battle died down… The damage inflicted on the enemy was not easy to assess, but it is probable that well over 20 tanks were disabled and certain that six were total wrecks. What mattered was that Rommel’s armour had reached its furthest forward point – and been decisively and finally stopped by the guns of the regiment. For though the battle was renewed the next day (3rd July was 78th/84th Battery’s day) and again the day after that, more troops had by then been collected and pushed up to the support of Robcol. The crisis had passed.”

Ten days later at the same location, Sergeant K. Elliot, 22nd Battalion, 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force was awarded the Victoria Cross. His citation reads:

“On 15 July 1942 at Ruweisat, Western Desert, Egypt, Sergeant Elliott, while leading his platoon in an attack under heavy machine-gun and mortar fire, was wounded in the chest. Nevertheless, he carried on and led his men in a bayonet charge which resulted in the capture of four enemy machine-gun posts and an anti-tank gun. Seven of the enemy were killed and 50 taken prisoner. In spite of his wounds Sergeant Elliott refused to leave his platoon until he had reformed them and handed over the prisoners, the number of which had by then increased to 130.”

Previously the regiment had won a Victoria Cross in the Western Desert and the similarities between Lieutenant Ross’ MC citation and Lieutenant Gunn’s VC citation can not be ignored. The noticeable difference being that Gunn did not survive the action:

2nd Lt. George Gunn (1912-1941)
2nd Lieutenant George Ward Gunn MC of the 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery, citation reads:
"On November 21st 1941, at Sidi Rezegh, 2nd Lt Gunn was in command of a troop of four anti-tank guns which was part of a battery of 12 guns attached to the Rifle Brigade Column. At ten o'clock a covering force of enemy tanks was engaged and driven off, but an hour later the main attack by about 60 enemy tanks developed, 2nd Lt Gunn drove from gun to gun during this period in an unarmoured vehicle encouraging his men and reorganising his dispositions as first one gun and then another were knocked out. Finally, only two guns remained in action and were subjected to very heavy fire. Immediately afterwards one of these guns was destroyed and the portee of the other was set on fire and all the crew killed or wounded except the sergeant, though the gun remained undamaged. The battery commander then arrived and began to fight the flames. When he saw this, 2nd Lt Gunn ran to his aid through intense fire and immediately got the one remaining anti-tank gun into action on the burning portee, himself sighting it whilst the sergeant acted as loader. He continued to fight the gun, firing between 40 and 50 rounds regardless alike of the enemy fire which was by then concentrated on this one vehicle and on the flames which might at any moment have reached the ammunition with which the portee was loaded. In spite of this, 2nd Lt Gunn's shooting was so accurate at a range of about 800 yards that at least two enemy tanks were hit and set on fire and others were damaged before he fell dead, having been shot through the forehead."

Comes with numerous photographs of Ross, some in uniform, some in civilian clothing and many in sports clothing.
a) Postcard size photo of Ross in uniform with beret (Khaki drill) receiving medal for third place.
b) Similar to above but in running gear. Reverse of photo is stamped by Italian photo agency from Genoa so this is probably of the Genoa games of 1946. It would appear that this is 500 m race.
c) Similar to above at the end of a race being clapped by British soldiers. It would appear that the runner up of this race was about 100m behind Ross. It also carries the Genoa stamp on the reverse.
d) Ross in running gear being cheered on by soldiers in uniform. Caption reads “Winning 1500 metres at 2 district Championships”
e) Large portrait taken in Christmas 1943 addressed to his “Darling Mattil”. The reverse carries the following caption: “I smile because I think of you, of all the things we used to do, so until the day we meet again, just try and keep your smile the same. D.”
f) Large photo in uniform with a caption on the reverse which describes the scene: “Receiving medal from American General, Milan 17 June 1945”.
g) Large photo in the uniform of Major RA with peaked cap and ribbons (including MC) taken in Milan probably in 1945. It would appear that this was taken just before the kick-off of a football match between two army formations.
h) Similar to above. Caption reads “Major Ross marked by cross”.
i) Taken a few moments after the above, being presented to the teams.
j) Large photo in uniform (Ross is cut off at the side of the photo). Show a man in rugby kit receiving a medal from a British Brigadier. The reverse stamp carries the Milan stamp so we can guess that this was at the same Milan games. It would appear that this was taken on the same day as the football match.
k) Photo of Ross, full length in running gear. Date and place unknown.
l) Photo of Ross in running gear. Caption on the reverse describes the scene: “Finishing the 1600 metres relay. Note 2nd person! District Championships.” The 2nd person is but a dot in the distance! Carries Genoa stamp.
m) Photo of rugby team. Ross is at the right of the back row. Carries Milan stamp but date and team unknown.
n) Photo of Ross warming up for a race. Carries Milan stamp.
o) Group photo of officers and men in uniform. Ross is centre middle row and is wearing ribbons. Seems to be taken in a sports ground.
p) Ross in uniform (Kharki drill) as Major. Meeting a football team before a game. Caption says “Milan 25 May 1946”
q) Ross with a Brigadier General and a Civilian meeting the football team. Similar to above
r) As above but large and a few moments later.
s) As above a few moments later.
t) Photo of Ross in a rugby team before a game. Ross is seated front row, second from the right. Crowd is mostly military personnel. Full stadium. Reverse stamped Milan.
u) Photo of Ross and his wife in civilian clothing at a dinner table drinking champagne. The reverse is stamped Cannes, France. Could this photo be pre-war? Ross looks younger than photos of him as Major.
v) Full length photo of Ross and his wife in civilian clothing. Both a lot older than above. Reverse is stamped by Portman Press Bureau Ltd. of Sloane Square, London.
[1] Robcol was made up of components withdrawing from the Gazala line. All units had been engaged for varying periods and with varying fortunes in the bitter fighting. 11th Regiment RA also formed part of this force. Waller was the CO and Howell CO of 11th Regiment RA.