TOPIC:

Andrew Stewart Ross, M.I.D. (2)

Sergeant, 1st Scottish Horse – Anglo Boer War
Corporal, Transvaal Mounted Rifles – Bambatha Rebellion
Lieutenant, 5th Mounted Rifles (Imperial Light Horse) – German South West Africa
Captain, 10th South African Horse – German East Africa – WWI
Captain, 1st Coloured Corps – Palestine - WWI
Captain and Adjutant, 5th Mounted Rifles (Imperial Light Horse) – Post War

- QSA with Cape Colony & Transvaal clasps to 37085 Serjt. A. S. Ross, 1st Scot Horse.
- Natal (Bambatha) medal with 1906 clasp to Cpl. A.S. Ross, Transvaal Mtd. Rifles
- 1914/15 Star to Sjt. A.S. Ross, 5th M.R.
- British War Medal to Lt. A.S. Ross
- Victory Medal to Lt. A.S. Ross
- Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal to Lieut. A.S. Ross, 5th M.R. (I.L.H.)

Fortunately tracking down family members of Andrew Ross was a relatively easy task and, thankfully so as they have been able to assist greatly in putting the pieces of his life together. One of the most confusing aspects was that he used different names intermittently. In some records he is known as Alexander Andrew Ross whilst in others he is known as Andrew Stewart Ross or, simply, Andrew Ross. Whatever names he was most fond of using none of them detract from the fact that he was an interesting man who saw much service from the Boer War to WWI and beyond.

Andrew Ross (for this is the name we will use) came into this world at 05h00 on a cold winter’s morning on 18 November 1881 at the Blackwater Viaduct in the parish of Contin near Dingwall in Rosshire, Scotland. His father, Stewart Ross, was a Railway Surfaceman by occupation married to his mother, Joanna Ross, born McLennan. He was baptised as Alexander Andrew Ross at Dingwall on 27 November 1881.

According to the 1891 Scotland census Andrew Alexander Ross, now aged 9, was living with his parents at 5 Blackwell Street in Dingwall. The house was a full one with siblings John (16), Kenneth (15), Donald (13), James Edward (11), Duncan (5), Maggie (4) and Isabella (7 months) making up the numbers and with Jane McLennan – Mrs. McLennan’s sister – in residence as well.



The Ross family - Mrs Ross and her brood - the father had passed away by the time this photo was taken around 1905

It must have been a rowdy household in which he found himself and there were probably times when a young Andrew yearned for the peace and tranquillity which life away from his large family was sure to bring. The opportunity that presented itself came in the form of the Anglo Boer War. This conflict had been raging between the Transvaal and Orange Free State Boer Republics and the might of the British Empire since October 1899 and, after several initial reversals in fortune, the call had gone out to the domestic population in Great Britain to rally to the cause and join one of the many Imperial Yeomanry outfits being raised for that purpose.

One such outfit, unique in that although it was raised in Scotland it was regarded as a South African unit, was the Scottish Horse and it was to this body that Ross turned. Completing the Attestation papers for One Year Short Service with the Colours at Inverness on 29 May 1901 he confirmed that he was 20 years and 5 months old and a Hairdresser by occupation in the employ of McHentie’s Hairdressers where he had been for four years. By way of previous military service he had been in the 1st Volunteer Battalion (Militia) of the Cameron Highlanders.

Physically he was a small man at 5 feet 4 ½ inches and weighing 129 pounds with a fresh complexion, dark brown eyes and black hair. Of distinguishing features there were a few – he had a scar on his right hip, little toes that overlapped slightly and a slight brown mark on his left groin. Having been passed as fit for the Army by the Doctor he was assigned to the 1st Battalion with the rank of Trooper and no. 37085. But who or what was the Scottish Horse?

Major the Marquis of Tullibardine, MVO, DSO, in the written statement furnished by him to the War Commission and in his evidence gives an admirably clear yet modest account of the organisation, composition, and work of the two regiments of the Scottish Horse that he had raised, each of which earned great distinction by exceptionally fine work.

In November 1900 Lord Kitchener had sanctioned the raising of a regiment to be known as the Scottish Horse, part of the Imperial Yeomanry referred to above. Lord Tullibardine soon started recruiting from Scotsmen, or men of Scottish descent, in South Africa, chiefly in Natal; and on 4th February 1901 he took the field with three squadrons. To these other squadrons were soon added. The Volunteer Service Companies of Scottish regiments furnished no less than 200 men. To these their leader gave the highest possible praise. "One hundred of them were the best body of men in every way that I saw in South Africa. This particular squadron had a reputation which extended far beyond the column with which it was trekking".



Andrew Ross in later life

Recruiting was not confined to South Africa. Great Britain and the other Colonies were appealed to, and the Caledonian Societies in London and overseas did grand work. The Highland Society of London sent out 386 officers and men, who sailed in February and March 1901; and the Marquis's father, the Duke of Atholl, personally raised 831 men before the war was over. The first regiment was soon six squadrons strong, and a second of five squadrons also took the field.

In no way did Lord Tullibardine show his organising powers to greater advantage than in the setting up of depots for his force for both men and horses. A central headquarters depot for both regiments, with a convalescent camp for sick men and overworked horses, was at Johannesburg, and there were advance depots for each regiment near the railway in the district in which each might be trekking. At these advance depots were remount establishments. Thus sick men could go to the regimental camp, and so not get lost in the great army hospitals. Horses needing a rest could be sent in to the rest-camp at the depot, and come out as well as ever.

Only a very brief account of the services of the corps is provided here in order to give context to Ross’ career and what follows is almost entirely taken from Lord Tullibardine's evidence and the official despatches.

The 1st Regiment - This regiment was commanded at first by Lord Tullibardine, then by Major Blair, King's Own Scottish Borderers, after him by Lieutenant Colonel C E Duff, 8th Hussars, and finally by Lieutenant Colonel H P Leader, 6th Dragoon Guards. It served in the Western Transvaal in a column commanded by Colonel Flint, by Colonel Shekleton, by Brigadier General Cunningham, by Brigadier General Dixon, and lastly by Colonel Kekewich. They had a few casualties, but saw no very serious fighting till the action at Vlakfontein on 29th May 1901 – the very day Ross joined up in far-away Scotland.

The next serious fight was when Delarey surprised the camp at Moedwill on September 30th 1901 and, on this occasion, Ross would have been present. The Scottish Horse casualties were 3 officers and 17 men killed, 12 officers and 41 men wounded. The regiment, owing to the greater part being away on command, were very weak that night, and behaved splendidly with no fewer than 7 officers and 3 non-commissioned officers and men of the regiment gaining mention.

Soon after the Moedwill action Lieutenant Colonel Leader, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carbineers), took over the command from Lieutenant Colonel Duff, who took over the command of his own regiment, the 8th Hussars. To Colonel Leader is due the high state of efficiency of the regiment at the end of the war. The regiment continued its good work in the Western Transvaal.

Between May and September they were almost constantly in contact with the enemy. They had 1 man killed and Lieutenant Duncan Stewart and 1 man wounded on 6th July. On 8th August, at Elandsdrift, 1 man was killed and Surgeon J M Bernstein and several men were wounded. At Witpoort on 13th December 5 men were wounded. Among the next losses the regiment had to mourn was the death of Captain P N Field, who was killed at Doornlaagte on 2nd March 1902.

In the early months of 1902 the regiment was constantly on the trek and fighting. At Gruisfontein, on February 5th, 1902, the whole of Sarel Albert's commando was captured. As to this action, Lord Kitchener, in his despatch of 8th February, said: "During Major Leader's advance he came upon and captured a Boer picket, from which he ascertained that General Delarey had already moved his camp, but that Commandant Sarel Albert's laager was for that night at Gruisfontein, which he reached just before daybreak. Our men charged the enemy's laager with great dash, the Scottish Horse taking the main share of the attack, and as most of the Boer horses had been stampeded by the fire of Major Leader's pompom, the gallantry of the attacking force was rewarded by an unusually large measure of success; 7 Boers were killed, 132 prisoners taken, 11 of whom were wounded, together with 130 rifles, 2800 rounds of ammunition, and a large number of horses, mules, cattle, and waggons were taken. Our casualties were 2 officers and 6 men wounded, all belonging to the Scottish Horse". In his telegram of 5th February Lord Kitchener said: "Leader reports that the Scottish Horse behaved with great gallantry".

The regiment was in the column of Colonel Kekewich and the brigade of General Walter Kitchener in the last great drives in the Western Transvaal. In the drive which started from the Klerksdorp blockhouse line on 23rd March, and came back to that line on the 24th, the troops covered 80 miles in twenty-four hours. To the 1st Scottish Horse chiefly belonged the credit for the capture of three 15-pounder guns and two pom-poms.

The regiment bore an honourable part in another big fight at Rooival on 11th April 1902. Lord Tullibardine claimed for the Scottish Horse, apparently with good ground, the capture of some guns in the pursuit after a gallop of 20 miles. The official telegram certainly said that Kekewich had captured 2 guns, 1 pom-pom, 1 ammunition-cart, and 10 waggons. The regiment had 1 killed and 8 wounded in this engagement.

As can be seen from the above account the Scottish Horse were increasingly a force to be reckoned with. Ross had been with them in their exploits since landing in South Africa on 26 June 1901 ex the S.S. “Assaye”and, his abilities recognised, he was twice promoted – to the rank of Corporal on 17 October 1901 and to Sergeant on 18 February 1902. All told he served in South Africa for 1 year and 75 days before returning to England where he was discharged at Aldershot on 3 September 1902 on termination of his engagement after a total of 1 year and 110 days service. For his considerable efforts he was awarded the Queens South Africa Medal with clasps Cape Colony, Transvaal and South Africa 1901 & 1902. His character rating was “Very Good”.

Ross returned to Scotland for a while but something about him must have caught the eye of the Marquis of Tullibardine because it was in the service of this worthy that he became Equerry. During this interesting period of his life, he travelled with the Marquis extensively In Europe and was never far from his side. The Marquis having returned to Scotland Ross decided to make a life for himself in South Africa renewing his acquaintance with his old regiment – the Scottish Horse – in the process. On 15 March 1904 he signed up for peacetime service with them again as a Trooper and was back in uniform. This was not a moment too soon as, a mere two years later he was to be back in action. Barely four years after the end of the Boer War the Zulus in Natal found expression to their frustrations in a bloody surge of conflict against authority in what became known as the Zulu or Bambatha Rebellion of 1906.

Their discontent had its origins in the imposition of a £1 Poll Tax by the Colonial Government on every black male of 18 years and older. The previous war had been long and hard and, of course expensive and the Colonial purse was under strain to keep Natal afloat. In early February 1906 two white policemen were murdered whilst assisting a local Magistrate with the collection of this tax leading to the mobilisation of the Natal Militia two days later. The initial insurrection was broken by this show of force but more trouble was brewing in the Mpanza Valley near Greytown. A hot-headed young Chief, Bambatha, was openly stirring the various factions into a frenzy against the tax, refusing to heed demands to submit himself and his followers to the payment thereof. This spilled over into open rebellion and the Transvaal authorities thought it high-time that they came to the assistance of their Natal allies.

A volunteer force of some 500 hand-picked men making up the Transvaal Mounted Rifles was assembled from among other units; the Imperial Light Horse and Ross’ outfit – the Scottish Rifles. On 26 April this body left Johannesburg for Dundee to join Colonel McKenzie’s Zululand Field Force. C Squadron of the Scottish Horse (with Ross as one of their number) concentrated along with their Transvaal comrades at Dundee preparing to confront Bambatha and his allies in the Nkandla Mountains – a difficult area to penetrate but a necessary one in order to defeat the rebels.

On 3 May the force left Dundee moving by day and laagering at night with supplies for 20 days. Crossing the Blood River north of the famous Rorke’s Drift they rode for Empandhleni in Zululand reaching that place without interference on 8 May. After a day’s rest they headed for Ntingwe in the mountains. It was decided to encircle the rebels with the T.M.R. coming at them from Nkandla with the first clash of any substance coming on 3 June in the Dukuza Forests. On the night of 9 June the T.M.R. were camped at the confluence of the Insuze-Mome valleys when they received the urgent order to “move at once with all available men to the mouth of the Mome valley” where Sigananda, a Bambatha ally was hiding. By dawn on the next day they had encircled the rebels and were at the entrance to the Mome Gorge by 4 a.m.

In the heavy mist the guns and rifles were ordered to fire on the blissfully unaware Zulus who were awaking from their slumber. Stunned by the unexpected fury of the attack the rebels were thrown into panic and bolted for the forest only to be met with devastating fire from the troops ranged there. Hundreds of Zulus perished in a 15 minute period before the ceasefire was called and the T.M.R. left the ridges and drove up the Gorge. All told some 500 Zulu rebels succumbed among them the prize of Bambatha whose head was severed from his body and carried away to be used as proof to the authorities that he was dead and to act as a deterrent to any others who would rise against the government.

It was thought that with Bambatha dead the rebellion would peter out however the unrest spread wider than before and the T.M.R., who had been sent on a mission to Empangeni, were called back with orders to proceed to the Umvoti Drift. They reached Dalton on 30 June and were attacked by 350 fanatical rebels, later joined by another 500, attempting to prevent them from reaching the Insuze Drift where they were headed. In desperate close-quarter fighting, with the Zulus trying to get within stabbing distance, the T.M.R. drove them off on the three occasions the warriors charged into a veritable wall of fire. Some 400 Zulus died that morning with the T.M.R. suffering one killed and two wounded.

Yet another suicidal attack was launched on the T.M.R. the next day with impis attacking from the scrub on both sides of the road as the T.M.R. advanced, coming within 10 feet of the rifles, and once more they were beaten back with heavy losses. By the last week of July the rebellion had all but petered out and the Transvaal Mounted Rifles left Natal to the acclaim of their comrades and the thanks of the Colonial Government. Ross and his comrades had certainly seen plenty of action and it would be wrong to suggest that the fighting was one-sided for many of the rebels had modern arms and ammunition and heavily outweighed the Militia force in numbers and, dare it be said, fanaticism. Ross, who had been promoted to Corporal during the conflagration, was awarded the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp for his efforts.

With peace reigning once more Ross returned to civilian pursuits but still very much an active member of the Scottish Horse. Events were, however, to overtake him – the Active Citizen Force regiments in the Transvaal (and elsewhere) were being rationalised and reorganised and, on 30 June 1909 he was transferred to the Reserve having served for 5 years and 3 months with his old comrades. This wasn’t the end for him though – on 1 February 1911 he joined the ranks of the Imperial Light Horse – the regiment in which his brother John was an officer and later to become its Officer Commanding.

Having proved his mettle elsewhere he was appointed as Regimental Quarter Master Sergeant in which capacity he served until being commissioned as a Lieutenant on 1 November 1914 but we get ahead of ourselves – the world woke on the morning of 4 August 1914 to a global conflict which was to become known as the Great War – Britain and her allies (including South Africa) on the one side and Germany and her allies on the other. Being already an integral part of the Imperial Light Horse Ross was ready when the call to arms came and, on 22 August 1914 enlisted with “B” Squadron of the 5th Mounted Rifles for service in German South West Africa. He provided his wife, Mrs. L. Ross of Van Ryn Deep Gold Mine in the Transvaal as his next of kin and was assigned no. I 7182. Mustered with the rank of R.Q.S.M. he was, as mentioned above, commissioned on 1 November of that year having been payed as a Sergeant for the brief period from 5 September until 3 November.



A newspaper insert - Andrew Ross is top left in the montage

On 8 September the I.L.H. entrained at Newtown in Johannesburg for Cape Town on what was planned to be the first leg of their journey to Luderitzbucht in German South West Africa, reaching Cape Town on 12 September where they were marched to Rondebosch. Rumours soon began to spread as they were detained for a fortnight until it became clear that they were returning to the north, specifically Prieska, which was a hot-bed of rebellion by those who were violently opposed to South Africa entering the war on the British side. Their final destination was announced as Upington where the rebels had signalled their intention to invade that town. Ross’s “B” Squadron encountered a rebel force of 100 men at a farm nearby Upington and were part of the attack the next morning which routed the rebels in a short fight. A week later, on 21 October 1914, Captain J. Stewart Ross (Ross’s older brother) and also the O.C. of “B” Squadron was sent with his Squadron of 96 men to hold Keimos, south west of Upington. At 5 a.m. the next day they found themselves confronted by 1200 rebel mounted riflemen including a strong German contingent from across the nearby border.

Maritz, the rebel commander, was unaware that Keimos was occupied and ordered his men to make straight for the ridge. The I.L.H. men held their fire until the attackers were within 50 yards when the order for “Rapid fire” was given. The surprise was complete and the rebels retired in confusion leaving behind many dead and wounded including Maritz who managed to get away in a motor car.

Ross, his part in the rebellion over, embarked aboard the S.S. “Gaika” on 24 November 1914 bound for Luderitzbucht. The most singular action in which he was to see service was the defence of the settlement of Trekkopjies which was held against a vastly superior in numbers German force. From Otavifontein the 1st I.L.H. returned by rail to Walvis Bay and sailed for Cape Town where they arrived on 30 July. For them that part of the war was over and many retired to their homes and civilian careers. Ross was made of sterner stuff and, on 28 November 1915 at Johannesburg, completed the Attestation forms for service German East Africa in the 1st Mounted Brigade.

Confirming that he was born in Dingwall, Scotland he claimed to be 33 years old and married with 3 children aged 5, 3 ½ and 16 months. He also confirmed the various stints of service he had already undergone including his role in the rebellion and that he was a Lieutenant in the Imperial Light Horse. By way of occupation he was a Tube Mill Foreman on the Mines and was physically 5 feet 6 inches in height, weighing 160 pounds and with a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. He had a scar on his left hip and was, having been passed as Fit by the Doctor assigned no. 93 and the rank of Squadron Sergeant Major with “C” Squadron of the 4th South African Horse. The address provided was 40 Alberman St. Kensington, Johannesburg but this later changed to 18a Nourse St. Troyeville.

Rodd embarked for German East Africa on 6 February 1916 and was deployed operationally on arrival. It wasn’t long before he began to display symptoms of one of the many tropical diseases that were to lay the majority of European soldiers low whilst they were stationed in that part of the world. On 25 March 1916 he was admitted to the Field Ambulance at New Moschi with Pyrerria and three days later was being treated for Malaria at the same place. So severe did his health later become that he was repatriated to South Africa aboard the H.M.T. “Ingoma” disembarking at Durban on 16 February 1917 and being immediately admitted to the medical camp at Congella.

It was here on 17 February that Medical Report on an Invalid was completed where, in the Statement of Case, it was confirmed that he had contracted Malaria at Moschi in April 1916. Ross was quoted as “He states that he has had 3 attacks of malaria and a number of minor ones. He was in hospital at Moschi and medically boarded at Morogoro.” As far as his present condition was concerned – the Doctors stated that “He has a poor appetite and sleeps poorly, and has lost weight. He is weak and anaemic and has an enlarged spleen.” After 3 months recuperative leave Ross was discharged on 21 May 1917 being temporarily unfit for War Service. His Military Character was rated as Very Good and he was credited with one year and 176 days service.

Down but not out Ross bided his time until, the boredom becoming too much, on 18 June 1917 a letter on his behalf was sent by the Staff Officer of No. 8 Military District to the Director War Recruiting stating that “Lt A. Ross, Imperial Light Horse is applying for a Commission overseas. I have known Lt. Ross since 1912 and consider he is in every way suitable and I would recommend his appointment, should a vacancy exist.” Another testimonial came from Lt. Colonel Panchard, the O.C. of the I.L.H. who wrote that, “Lieut. A.S. Ross served in my regiment throughout the Rebellion and the German west campaign and was promoted from Sergeant to Commissioned rank for good conduct. I can recommend him for a Commission in His Majesty’s Forces overseas.”

Seemingly thwarted in his request for a Commission on the Western Front he re-enlisted for service on 9 July 1917 this time with the 10th South African Horse and was again destined for German East Africa embarking at Durban per the “Ingoma”. On this occasion he was commissioned as a Lieutenant and appointed to the Transport Squadron. Promotion to Acting Captain “A” Squadron followed on 19 November 1917. Acquitting himself well on his second stint of duty in pestilential conditions Ross was Mentioned in Despatches for distinguished services over the period 30 May 17 – December 17.

He disembarked at Durban ex H.M.T. “Caronia” and readers would be forgiven for thinking that he had had enough and was going home for good however, on 13 February 1918 he wrote from his home address, 179A Jules Street, Jeppes Extension, Johannesburg to the Director of War Recruiting as follows,

“Sir

I have the honour to apply for a post as Conducting Officer with a view to obtaining a commission in the Overseas Forces. In July 1917 I made a similar application and was all but accepted when I was offered a Commission in the 10th S.A.H. which I accepted and returned with that unit to East Africa.
I desire to point out to you that my leave pending discharge expires on the 25th instant, when I will have to return to civil employment if I am not fixed up with a military appointment. Having been on service since August 1914 I desire to continue until the end of hostilities.

Your obedient servant etc. etc.”

The reply received on 25 February was not encouraging – it informed Ross that “instructions have now bene received from the War Office imposing a hard and fast age limit viz. 25 and 30 for Lieutenants and Captains respectively appointed to Imperial Commissions – you are this over the age limit”

Faced with rejection Ross wrote to the Staff Officer of his District stating that, “I have the honour to submit to you my application for employment as Draft Conducting Officer. If it is not possible to have it fixed up by the 18th instant I have no alternative but to sign on as a Private in one of the Units for service Overseas. On two occasions in this war I have started off in the ranks”

Such a step was not required and our intrepid adventurer was appointed to an Imperial Commission with the 1st Battalion of the Cape Coloured Corps at Kimberley on 28 March 1918 with the rank of Lieutenant. After a short period of orientation he boarded the H.M.T. “Berwick Castle on 24 June 1918 and sailed for Egypt, disembarking there on 27 June 1918. From there he was thrown into action against the Turks in Palestine. On the night of 16 September he was brought up from the Depot with other officers and a further 160 men as a precursor to an all-out attack on the Turks. The same night the battalion entered a grove of olive trees about two miles from the starting point of the attack and over the next two days took part in a concentrated and well planned assault on the Turkish Army (the Cape Corps first exposure to them). By the morning of the 19th September almost all opposition had been swept away on the coastline road to Jordan and there was only intermittent sniper fire and the off bombardment from the Turkish forces who had retired to 700 yards away. It was most likely one of these snipers who wounded Ross on that day. Although he remained at his post. He was, for the second time, Mentioned in Despatches – Gazetted in August 1918.

On 9 June 1919 Ross disembarked at Durban for the last time and was released from service on 4 July 1919. He had had a long and gruelling war – having served with no fewer than four different units, being M.I.D. twice and having bene wounded into the bargain. The nature of the wound was revealed in yet another Medical Report on an Invalid completed in respect of Ross at Congella on 30 June 1919 (just after his return to the Union). Again referring to the Malaria he had contracted two years previously mention was now made of a “Flesh wound, G.S.W. (Gun Shot Wound) left forearm, inner side, no disability.” For the first time we also learned that Ross was bespectacled.

For his considerable efforts he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal to go with his Boer War and Bambatha Rebellion medals.

With such long and distinguished service to his credit it came as no surprise when, on 7 May 1924, application was made for the award of the Colonial Auxiliary Forces Long Service Medal after 22 years 9 months and 25 days in uniform. Duly granted the medal was sent to the Imperial Light Horse H.Q. for handing over on 24 July. Ross settled back into an Active Citizen Force roll with consummate ease and, on 20 February 1925, application was made on his behalf to the position of Quartermaster of his regiment. He had been acting in this role since September the year before and “is in every way fitted for the position”. Promotion to Captain for Ross was also requested in the same letter. Both were acceded to with effect from 1 January 1925. On 7 February 1928 his responsibilities were extended to include the role of Adjutant.

This appointment should have gone smoothly but trouble loomed ahead – the powers that be determined that the role of Adjutant was a combat one and that Ross, being the Quartermaster was now in a non-combatant role. The O.C. of the I.L.H. was called upon to explain himself – the fact that Lieut. Colonel James Stewart Ross was, in point of fact, Andrew Ross’ brother probably complicated matters but the former worthy wasn’t going down without a fight. On 20 February 1928 he penned a letter to the O.C. of the Military District which read thus,

“Captain and Quartermaster A.S. Ross is not relinquishing his present appointment of his own accord, but at my request. No officer in this regiment is willing to undertake the duties of Adjutant as they cannot afford the time necessary for the proper performance of the duty. If Captain Ross must revert to the rank of Lieutenant, I trust the Adjutant General will agree to his being granted the temporary rank of Captain.

I wish to point out that Captain Ross has not qualified for promotion because, having devoted all his holiday leave for years to the interests of his Unit, he cannot get further leave to attend the Military College, which he would willingly do if extra leave could be granted. While we must accept the records as binding in reference to his seniority Regimentally his service since 1914 (when first appointed) has been exactly like the other Officers of the Unit except that his absorption to establishment was not recorded at the time.”

Time was now working against Ross and, on 9 February 1933 he wrote applying to be transferred to the Reserve of Officers “owing to my inability to perform the duties required of me as Quartermaster…. The period of convalescence in respect of the illness from which I recently suffered is longer than my Medical Adviser anticipated.”

Andrew Stewart Ross passed away in June 1947 and in a moving tribute The Springs and Brackman Daily of Friday, June 27th, 1947 had the following to say:

PASSING OF CAPT. A. S. ROSS
AN INTERESTING MILITARY CAREER RECALLED

The death occurred at Springs lately of Captain A. S. Ross, an ex-officer of the Imperial Light Horse, who had had a long and distinguished career.
Captain Ross, who was a member of a family with a wonderful military record, came to South Africa with the Scottish Horse in the South African War and eventually returned to make his home in this country.

After the South African War, he returned to Scotland for a while, where he became Equerry to the Marquis of Tullibardine. During this interesting period of his life, he travelled with the Marquis extensively In Europe.

This love for soldiering remained and he took an active part in the formation of those volunteer corps after the South African War which were the fore-runners of the Active Citizens’ Force and on which was erected the defence structure of this country.

Captain Ross served with the T.M.R. in 1906 at the time of the Zulu Rebellion. This is mentioned because the T.M.R. consisted entirely of hand-picked men from six regiments.

During World War I, he was twice commissioned in the field, the first time was when he was Regimental-Quartermaster-Sergeant in the I.L.H. with Colonel Donaldson at Luderitz. He later joined the 6th Horse as a trooper and was promoted to Squadron-Sergeant-Major. In 1917 he was commissioned with the 10th S.A. Horse. For two months during 1918-1919 he was Provost Marshal in Jerusalem whilst serving with the Cape Corps.

On his return from World War I, Captain Ross resumed peace-time soldiering with the I.L.H.

Adjutant of this regiment for a number of years he played a big part in training the regiment for the part it took In the 1939-1945 War.
It is interesting to note that he managed to squeeze some very interesting activities into this military life.

From about 1908 to 1911, Capt. Ross was manager of the Lion Hill Diamond Mines in the Orange Free State, during which period he became a Freemason. For a number of years he was also employed on the Langlaagte Estates.

Captain Ross is survived by a son and five married daughters, two of whom are well-known Springs residents - Mrs. Frank Lyle, wife of the West Springs Compound Manager, and Mrs. C.S. Sargent, Commandant of V.A.D. 119, Springs.

Now that we are almost at the end of Andrew Ross' story it is worth quoting from an old family anecdote relating to his wife and how he came to be married to her - it reads as follows:

Elizabeth Lily Neilon (his wife)

Lily moved to South Africa with her parents in 1902 and was was engaged to Andrew Stuart Ross when Andrew went off to find work at Lion Hill Diamonds. While he was away Lily used to go out with her brothers and one of the lads who joined the gatherings was a man called Billy Garrity. A mischief maker wrote to Andrew Ross and told him that Lily was going out with another man. Andrew on reading this news wrote to Lily protesting about her behavior, Lily took umbrage at his attitude packed up all the gifts he had given her, posted them to him with a letter breaking off the engagement. She later married William Arthur Garrity on 16 September 1908. They had two children, Ella (also Elizabeth) and Catherine Sheridan (Rene).

William died in May 1910 from Gastric ulcer pen-gastric abscess. He left Lily quite well off and she decided to visit her in-laws in Liverpool but finding she did not get on well with them moved to Daiziel (Motherwell) in the county of Lanark where Rene was born. Ella was 15 months older than Rene. Lily returned to South Africa after Rene’s birth and staying with her mother, one evening the pair of them went to His Majesty's Theatre where Lily spotted Andrew Ross - her mother insisted that he go over and speak to Lily and the romance was on again.

Andrew and Lily had four children, Joan, Gena, Margaret and Edward. Lily died during the birth of her 7th child when Margaret was 6 years old. After Lily died the rearing of the younger children was largely left to the older girls in the family and consequently Margaret was very close to her two older sisters Joan and Rene. This had a lifelong influence on Margaret’s attitude to life. Margaret firmly believes in rearing children to be as capable and independent as they can possibly be at any age. She is fiercely independent herself and has great faith in the ability of women armed with education can achieve anything they want to.

Growing up under the stern eye of a father who was at heart an officer in the cavalry meant a life of discipline. The adage “speak when you are spoken to” has made Margaret a thoughtful person who has an intelligent input to conversation that is remarkable. Andrew contracted rheumatic fever after Lily died. He bravely continued to work as he bore the full responsibility of supporting and rearing the children. The strain of working when he was so ill bore a heavy consequence in his later life ending his life in pain and suffering riddled with rheumatoid arthritis.

A fascinating man with a great sense of duty had been lain to rest.

Rory - What a fascinating life and well presented to the Forum. Thank You.
BP

Rory
A great story indeed, and another reason to have an interest in the Imperial Light Horse.
Regards
Brett

Thank you gentlemen. I also have some (sadly not all) of his brother John Stewart Ross' group. He was the chap who was the O.C. of the I.L.H. from 1927 until 1930 (I think)

I have his Bambatha to the rank of Lieutenant in the Transvaal Mounted Rifles and his 1914/15 Star as a Captain in the 5th M.R. (I.L.H.)

Research, as they say, is ongoing.

Regards

Rory