| Regimental number | 1040 |
| Place of birth | Lion Mill, Western Australia |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Occupation | Clerk |
| Address | Wellington Mills via Dardanup, Western Australia |
| Marital status | Single |
| Age at embarkation | 22 |
| Height | 5' 8" |
| Weight | 150 lbs |
| Next of kin | Father, James Ross, Wellington Mills via Dardanup, Western Australia |
| Previous military service | Nil |
| Enlistment date | |
| Date of enlistment from Nominal Roll | |
| Place of enlistment | Blackboy Hill, Western Australia |
| Rank on enlistment | Private |
| Unit name | 32nd Battalion, C Company |
| AWM Embarkation Roll number | 23/49/1 |
| Embarkation details | Unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on |
| Rank from Nominal Roll | Private |
| Unit from Nominal Roll | 32nd Battalion |
| Fate | Killed in Action |
| Age at death from cemetery records | 22 |
| Place of burial | No known grave |
| Commemoration details | V.C. Corner (Panel No 6), Australian Cemetery Memorial, Fromelles, France |
| Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 121 |
| Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: James and Mary ROSS, Mornington Mills, Treesville, Western Australia |
| Other details |
War service: Egypt, Western Front Disembarked Suez, 18 December 1915. Found guilty, Ferry Post, 26 March 1916, of failing to appear on 0600 parade: awarded 1 day's extra guard. Found guilty, Duntroon Plateau, 13 April 1916, of failing to appear on 1600 fatigue parade: awarded 2 extra fatigues, and 5 days' confined to camp. Embarked Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force, 17 June 1916; disembarked Marseilles, France, 23 June 1916. Reported missing, 20 July 1916. Identification disc received from Germany (German Death List, 4 November 1916). No particulars were afforded except that soldier is deceased. To be reported as KILLED IN ACTION 20/7/16. German report, 2 August 1916: 'austr. Sold. Ross, M. Nr. 1040. C. 32. A.I.F. am 19.7.16 in Gegen Fromelles gefallen.' Red Cross Record No. 23606070, has statement by 1026 Sergeant J. PARKER-LAYOCK (patient, No 5 General Hospital, Rouen), 4 December 1916: 'This man [ROSS] was in the same bombing team as Informant, who saw him killed by a bomb in the German communication sap at Fromelles on the 19th July at about 9 p.m. Ross was recommended for the D.C.M. for his bravery at this action.' Second statement, 1065 G. UNWIN (patient, No 8 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne), 8 December 1916: 'His Christian name was Mermon (sic). He was bombed in the enemy's trenches on the 20th July. Sgt. McDowell of C. Company, No. 1012 saw him and told me he was killed. There was tremendous shelling at the time, and when search parties went out afterwards they failed to find him, only 28 out of 212 came back, but pretty well all the wounded were brought in, but there were many left dead.' Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
| Miscellaneous details | Father's address (1921): 160 Chelmsford Road, North Perth, Western Australia |
| Sources | NAA: B2455, ROSS Mervyn
Red Cross file 23606070 |
Postal Address:
Po Box 7916
Canberra BC 2610, Australia
Street Address:
Northcott Drive,
Campbell, ACT 2600
