Harold Ross
From Our Contribution
 Portion of Engineers panel at Menin Gate memorial | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 23 Oct 1888 |
| Place of Birth | Hastings, Victoria |
| Death | 8 Jun 1917 |
| Place of Death | Ploegsteert Wood, Belgium |
| Age at Enlistment | 28 years, 2 months |
| Description |
5'7¾" (1.72m) tall ; 128 lbs 58.06 kg ; dark complexion ; hazel eyes ; brown hair |
| Occupation | Labourer |
| Religion | Church of England |
| Address | NOK Jarrahdale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Sister (twin) , Mrs Grace Sykes |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 14576 |
| Date of Enlistment | 18 Dec 1915 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 10th Field Company, Engineers |
| Date of Embarkation | 11 Jul 1916 ‒ 9 Sep 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A44 Vestalia |
| Fate | Killed in Action 8 Jun 1917 Messines |
| Monument |
Jarrahdale War Memorial Menin Gate Memorial Australian War Memorial Is on the Australian War Memorial under the name Harold Nielson |
| Medals |
British War Medal Victory Medal |
Contents
Pre War
War Service
Harold enlisted in Perth, entering Blackboy Hill camp on 18 Dec 1915. On 6 Jan 1916 Harold was allocated to the Miners, and sent to the Engineers' Depot at Moore Park for specialised training and to travel with them to England.
While in England preparing to go to France, Harold had some run ins with military discipline. On 3 Dec 1916 he was charged with being absent from a Church Parade held on 26 Nov 1916. For this he was awarded 24 hours detention! Rather draconian treatment by comparison with many other more severe offences committed by the troops overseas.
Soon after, on 17 Dec 1916 at the Engineer Training Depot at Brightlingsea, Harold was found guilty of: 1) Neglect of duty; and 2) AWOL from 11:45 on 11 Dec 1916 to 8:00am on 12 Dec 1916. This time he was awarded 168 hours (7 days) detention, with forfeiture of 12 days pay.
Not yet prepared to bend to military discipline, on 8 Jan 1917 he was found guilty of being AWOL from 9:30 on New Years Eve , until he surrendered at 10:00am on 5 Jan 1917. This time he received 7 days Field Punishment No.2, with a total of 15 days forfeiture of pay.
Next, Harold reported ill and was sent to Colchester Hospital on 19 Feb 1917, remaining there until 21 Mar 1917 when he reported back to the Engineers Training Depot.
On 29 Mar 1917 Harold proceeded overseas from Folkestone, and after a few days in the Base Depot at Étaples, he was taken on strength by the 10th Field Company - Engineers on 9 Apr 1917. Before he had more than settled in he was off to hospital again on 1 May 1917 via the 3/2nd Lancashire Field Ambulance who then passed him on next day to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer where he was treated for mumps.
Discharged from the 7th General Hospital on 20 May 1917, he rejoined his unit 3 days later. On 8 Jun 1917 Harold was initially reported to have been wounded in action. However, on 30 Jun 1917, his status was changed from WIA to Killed in Action on 8 Jun 1917.
Newspaper reports that Sapper Harold Ross from Jarrahdale has been previously reported to be seriously ill, but in fact had been wounded for a third time.[1] This seems to be at odds with the facts as he was a casualty of hostile acts on only one occasion - when he was deemed to have been KIA.
Notes
On file there is a letter from his niece June Sykes dated 13 Jan 1960 that implies that he had originally enlisted in Western Australia with the 10th Light Horse Regiment under his birth name of Harold Neilson. Ross was apparently his mother's maiden name.
There is a file for Harold Neilson, enlisted 11 Nov 1914 in Kalgoorlie, and discharged 26 Dec 1914. At Blackboy Hill camp on 22 Dec 1914 he had been charged with : "1) Creating a disturbance after lights out and inciting to Mutiny; 2} Resisting an escort; 3) Attempting to strike an NCO when on execution of duty. Award was for him to be discharged with him paying for any lost clothing. At no stage had he progressed beyond being a member of No. 3 Depot Company, and had yet to be allocated a Number.
The entry on the Menin Gate tablet for Engineers reads: Neilson H served as Ross H
- ↑ Kalgoorlie Sun 15 Jul 1917 p.3