Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Arthur Peter Ross, born in the July quarter of 1862 in Wigston Magna, Leicestershire and baptised on the 5th November 1862 in All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna (son of Samuel Ross, 1825-1893 and Elizabeth Cooper, 1822-1893) and his wife Emily Louisa Ross (nee Bevins, married on the 24th July 1881 in St. Peter’s Church, Leicester), daughter of James Bevins.
FAMILY NOTE: No further trace after July 1881 can be discovered of the family in Wigston Magna, and the assumption is that the family had emigrated to South Africa at some time after this date.
Arthur and Emily’s son, Francis McWilliam Ross was born in 1897 in South Africa, his name appearing on the war memorial in the grounds of All Saint’s Church, Wigston Magna and also on the Wigston Council Offices Memorial indicates that a member of the Ross family had put his name forward for inclusion, due to their family’s connection to Wigston Magna.
Francis enlisted/attested into the South African Expeditionary Force on the 6th December 1915 in Potchepstroome, and was allotted the regimental service number 113 1890. He gave his place of birth as Charlestown, Natal and age as 19 years. His next of kin as his father, Mr. Arthur Peter Ross, 16, Borg Street, Maritzburg, Natal. Other dependant’s, mother, Elsie Emily Ross, partially dependant. His marital status was given as unmarried and his trade or calling as chemist.
He confirmed that he had previously served 12 months with the Natal Field Artillery.
His Preliminary Medical Examination recorded his age as 19 years. Colour of hair, light. Colour of eyes, grey. Complexion, fresh. Height, 70¾ inches. Chest measurement, maximum 37½, minimum 33½. Distinctive marks or scars, scar left shin, scar across knuckle left little finger.
The applicant named on the reverse is physically fit for active military service. Place Maritzburg. Date 29th November 1915.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 19 years, height 5-feet 10¾ inches weight 150 lbs, chest measurement of between 33½ and 37½ inches his complexion was described as fresh, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was light. The following distinctive marks were noted, scar left shin, scar across knuckle left little finger. He gave his religion as Church of England.
Joined. Signal Squadron. Pte. 29/11/15.
Transferred. To 1st Mounted Brigade. 27/12/15.
Medical report on an Invalid.
Station: Congella. Date: 5th December 1916.
Unit: Van de Venters Scouts. Regimental No: 113. Rank: Signaller. Name: Francis McWilliam Ross. Age last birthday: 21. Enlisted on: 22nd September 1915 at Maritzburg. Former trade or occupation: Chemist.
Statement of Case.
Date of original disability: April 1916. Place of original disability: Kondoa.
Give concisely the essential facts of the history of the disability, noting entries on the Medical History Sheet bearing on the case.
He states. On the march he had some headache, he was taken to hospital; was unconscious for a week. Since then, he has had severe headaches and cannot take exercise in the sun. He was a little queer in his head at times. He arrived at Durban July 1916.
Give your opinion as to the causation of the disability. - Exposure to sun.
If you consider it to have been caused by active service, climate, or ordinary military service, explain the specific conditions to which you attribute it. - Active service.
Proceedings on Discharge.
No.113. Rank: Signaller. Name: Francis McWilliam Ross. Unit: V.D.V. Scouts.
Date of Discharge: 9/3/17.
Discharged at: Durban.
Final Destination: Pietermaritzburg.
Discharged in consequence of: Medically unfit.
Military Character: Good.
Service: 1 year 101 days.
Private address after discharge: 16, Berg Street, Pietermaritzburg.
Francis enlisted/attested into the South African Expeditionary Force on the 7th March 1917 in Maritzburg, and was allotted the regimental service number 12786. He gave his place of birth as Charlestown, Natal and age as 21 years. His next of kin as his father, A. P. Ross, 16, Berg Street, Maritzburg, Natal. Trade or calling, chemist. His marital status was given as unmarried. Other dependant’s, None, parents partially.
He confirmed that he was presently serving with the 7th Citizen Battery, 13 months. And had previously served for 18th months with the 1st Mounted Brigade Scouts.
His description on enlistment recorded his apparent age as 21 years, height 5-feet 10½ inches weight 153 lbs, chest measurement of between 36 and 39 inches his complexion was described as tanned fair, he had grey eyes and his hair colour was fair. The following distinctive marks were noted, vertical broad scar on middle of front of left shin bone. He gave his religion as Presbyterian.
He was considered fit for the Army on at Maritzburg. On 12th February 1917.
The compilation of events that occurred during his period of military service are taken from various documents contained in the Record of Service.
Joined. 1st Brigade. Pte. 7/3/17.
Embarked. From Cape Town per Transport Durham Castle. 23/3/17.
Taken on strength of “D” Company, 1st Reserve Brigade. 27/4/17.
Promoted. Acting Lance Corporal. 16/5/17.
Proceeded overseas. 22/6/17.
Arrived at No.2 Infantry Brigade Depot. 25/6/17.
Joined South African Infantry 2nd Regt. and taken on the strength of “C” Company. In the Field. 15/7/17.
Reverted. To Private on joining unit. In the Field. 10/8/17.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 3/10/17.
Returned. To Duty. In the Field. 12/11/17.
Admitted. Queen Alexandra’s Hospital, appendicitis. Malo-les-Bains. 21/11/17.
Condition dangerous. 29/11/17.
Admitted. To 59th General Hospital. St Omer. 3/1/18.
Off danger list, now serious. 4/1/18.
Transferred. To England. 13/1/18.
Admitted. South African Hospital, Richmond Park. 14/1/18.
Reprimanded, forfeits 1 days’ pay, overstayed his pass by 6 hours. 21/2/18.
Reprimanded, absent from his ward 45 hours 1/5/18 – 3/5/18.
Reprimanded, forfeits 4 days’ pay overstaying his pass by 95½ hours. 22/5/18.
Transferred. To South African Discharge Depot, Bordon. 25/6/18.
Transferred. To “B” Company 1st Reserve Battalion. 25/6/18.
Furlough. 27/6/18 – 10/7/18.
Proceeded. To South Africa and struck off strength of Discharge Depot, Bordon. 10/9/18.
Embarked. From Plymouth. 10/9/18.
Reported missing. 12/9/18.
Presumed drowned aboard S.S. Galway Castle. 13/9/18.
The circumstances in which Francis met his death are as follows: Galway Castle was built in 1911 by Harland & Wolff at Belfast with a tonnage of 7988grt, a length of 452ft 4in, a beam of 54ft 4in and a service speed of 13 knots. Similar to the Grantully Castle she was the last ship to be delivered before the company was taken over by Royal Mail. In August 1914 she was requisitioned as a troop ship for deployment in the German West Africa campaign against Windhoek.
After the German colony was taken over by General Botha in 1915, she reverted to commercial service as the only remaining Union-Castle vessel. On 3rd August 1916 she was attacked by a German bomber near the Gull lightship but the bomb, although scoring a direct hit, failed to explode. She went aground on the Orient Bank at East London on 12th October 1917 but was refloated five days later without any damage. At 07.30 on 12th September 1918 when two days out from Plymouth, she was torpedoed by U-82 and broke her back. At the time she was carrying 400 South African walking wounded, 346 passengers and 204 crew members. So severe was the damage that it was thought that she would sink immediately and it was apparent that U-82 was lining up for another attack. In the rush to abandon ship several lifeboats were swamped by the heavy seas and many finished up in the sea. However, the U-boat did not mount a further attack and the Galway Castle continued to wallow for three days. Destroyers were summoned by radio to rescue survivors who were taken back to Plymouth where it was ascertained that 143 persons had perished. HMS Spitfire remained in attendance and took off the skeleton crew before she finally sank.
[recognitum VIII-XI-MMXXIII]

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Country of Service South Africa
Son of Arthur Peter Ross, of aig, Boshoff St., Pietermaritzburg, Natal, and the late Emily Ross.
(Information from K Bodicoat, 25/08/2023)