Private John ROSS (1886-1916).
Service # 6/3147; Private, Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, 7th Reinforcements, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces (NZEF).
Born 9 June 1886 - at Greymouth, Westland, West Coast of the South Island, New Zealand.
John was the son of William & Hannah Ross - of Greymouth.
John Ross was the husband of Myrtle Ross - of Picton, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
Prior to enlistment for war service John Ross was a Bridge Carpenter - employed by the New Zealand Railways Department - at Picton, Marlborough Region.
John Ross enlisted for war service - on 13 May 1915 - at Trentham Military Training Camp, Wellington Region, North Island, New Zealand. He was 29 years of age.
At enlistment John Ross was posted as a Private with the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 7th Reinfocements, NZEF.
On 9 October 1915 Private Ross left New Zealand for overseas war service - with the 7th Reinforcements NZEF - aboard HMNZ either T32 "Aparima" or T33 "Navua" or T34 "Warrimoo" - from Port of Wellington, North Island, New Zealand.
Five weeks later - on 18 November 1915 - Private Ross disembarked from his transport ship, from New Zealand - at Suez, Egypt.
On 12 March 1916 Private Ross transferred, from the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, to the No 3 (New Zealand) Engineers - at Ismailia, Egypt.
On 26 March 1916 Private Ross was re-attached to the 2nd Battalion of the Canterbury Infantry Regiment, at Ismailia, Egypt.
On 7 April 1916 Private Ross left Egypt for active war service - at France & Belgium.
Private John Ross served at France until he was killed in action - on 16 September 1916 - at the Somme, France. He was 31 years of age.
Private John Ross is commemorated on the Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial, Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval, Somme, France (Ref: 1.G.15).
Private John Ross is also remembered at his hometown in New Zealand - on the Picton District War Memorial (1914-1918) - at Picton, Marlborough Region, South Island, New Zealand.
For Private John Ross's full military record refer to New Zealand Online Cenotaph : www.aucklandmuseum.com
Photo Credit: Picton War Memorial : Ministry of Culture & Heritage; New Zealand Government.
Jenifer Everett