Robert Ross was the son of John and Elizabeth Ross. He was born on 25th April 1889 at Brooke Street, Dungannon. He was one of nine children, eight surviving. Around 1890, the family moved to Belfast In 1901 his father was a linen sample maker. By 1911, Robert was working as a general labourer. Ross enlisted in the North Irish Horse. Private Robert Ross was killed in action on Wednesday 21st August 1918, probably during the assault on Beaucourt.
Further Information
Robert Ross was the son of John and Elizabeth Ross. Robert Ross and Elizabeth Rollins were married on 23rd August 1879 in the district of Cookstown.
Derivations of maiden name in GRONI include: Roynalds, Reynolds, Rawlins, Rollins and Rowlins.
Robert Ross was born on 25th April 1889 at Brooke Street, Dungannon. He was one of nine children, eight surviving.
Sometime around 1890 the family moved to Belfast
Known family: John Ross, Elizabeth Ross, Edith Ross (born 29th September 1881, Cookstown), John Ross (born 24th May 1883, Dungannon), Fred William Ross (born 5th May 1885, Cookstown), Martha Jane Ross (born 11th June 1887, Dungannon), Robert Ross (born 25th April 1889, Dungannon), Annie Ross (born 25th April 1891, Belfast), Bessie Ross (born 1st July 1893, Belfast), Meta Ross (born 23rd October 1895, Belfast).
The 1901 census lists Robert as age 11, living with the family at house 20 in Forth River Gardens, Falls Ward, Belfast. He was still at school. His father was an unemployed Linen Sample Maker.
The 1911 census lists Robert as age 21, living with the family at house 318 Springfield Road, Falls, Belfast He was working as a general labourer in a linen warehouse. His father was a linen lapper. Indeed, almost all of the family worked in the linen industry.
Ross enlisted in the North Irish Horse at Antrim on 8/9th November 1915.
Private Ross was posted to one of the three squadrons of the 1st North Irish Horse Regiment.
In February and March 1918 the regiment was dismounted and became a cyclist unit, serving as corps cyclists to V Corps for the remainder of the war.
His medal card stated he was with the Corps of Hussars for a time.
Private Robert Ross was killed in action on Wednesday 21st August 1918, the first day of the Advance to Victory offensive's attack on the Somme front, probably during the assault on Beaucourt.
Private Robert Ross was initially buried in Beaucourt Cemetery, south-east of Beaumont-Hamel.
After the war his body was moved to his current resting place in Ancre British Cemetery in Beaumont-Hamel, France.
The CWGC record Private Robert Ross as the son of John and Elizabeth Ross of 318 Springfield Road, Belfast.
All research here was undertaken from taken the North Irish Horse website and from Phillip Tardif’s excellent book – ‘The North Irish Horse in the Great War’
The newspaper photo, from the North Irish Horse website, is from Nigel Henderson, Researcher at History Hub Ulster.
