Orders, Decorations and Medals

A good Great War ‘Western Front’ M.C. group of four awarded to Lieutenant J. W. H. Ross, 185th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers

Military Cross, G.V.R., reverse contemporarily inscribed ‘Lieut. John W. H. Ross, 185 Tunnelling Coy., R.E., 1918’; 1914-15 Star (48930 Sjt., R.E.); British War and Victory Medals (Lieut.) mounted as worn; together with corresponding miniatures, these contained in ‘McLaren & Son, Glasgow’ fitted case, generally very fine (8) £800-1000

M.C. London Gazette 10 December 1919 ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in removing and rendering harmless mines and traps in Dourges on 14 October 1918. At this place his investigations were carried out under particularly trying conditions, in that the enemy had exploded numerous gas shells in cellars and dug-outs, thereby making the work of searching doubly dangerous.’

Sold with a copy of an article from The Great War, I Was There, Part 46, entitled ‘Had To Find The Boche Booby-Traps, R.E’s. Story of a Nightmare Job of The Retreat’, by Captain H. W. Graham, M.C., 185th Tunneling Company, Royal Engineers. Lieutenant Ross is mentioned a number of times in this article and the following information is extracted from it: ‘We moved into more comfortable quarters in the centre of the town on the 13th, after satisfying ourselves that they were free of traps and gas. Ross and I operated the area agreeably. On the 13th and 14th I investigated the large hospital, which was undermined like a rabbit warren and used as a refuge to shelter the wounded, when our airmen were over bombing, and which, of course, was only a precaution against a misdirected bomb. These warrens or tunnels were provided with beds, etc,. and they contained a great quantity of paper bandages – presumably because cotton was so scarce.

I expected the building to be mined, and it was no easy task to investigate. Moreover the tunnels were saturated with mustard gas in consequence of having some gas shells in them. The gas affected our eyes badly and the task had to be done in relays, but Ross offered to help, and we were very grateful. The Medical Officer’s house was also examined, and although we found no absolute evidence of traps, there was gas and we were suspicious.We placed it out of bounds by a merciful Providence, and the whole building was blown up some four weeks later by a delay-action mine when it was unoccupied. At one time I thought seriously of making it my headquarters, but the smell of gas settled the question! Anyhow, we cleared out the gunners who had taken possession of the hospital.

In the course of our work we consequently absorbed more gas than was good for us, so much so that we were beginning to feel the effects. To add to it, the enemy bombarded the town next night with H.E. and gas. On the 14th the Brigadier took me to a large waste dump alongside a coal mine, of which there were many in the neighbourhood. He showed me the various outposts and gave me instructions to clear the village of Noyelles-Godault of traps so that he could put a battalion in that night. Ross helped me in the job with half a dozen men, but when we got within 200 yards the enemy opened fire, and whilst we waited for the bombardment to subside we saw the steeple of the village church, struck at its base, heave over and topple down in ruins.

In the evening we were again shelled severely with gas. We were all suffering very much by this time with gas – our eyes were inflamed and we couldn’t bear a light in the same room. Just after 9 p.m. I was obliged to take Ross and some men to the dressing-station in the middle of the bombardment, and they were shortly after evacuated to the Base and England, never to return to French soil again, although they finally recovered...

Up to the end of the 17th my party had removed some 600 traps of various kinds, demolition charges and delay-action mines. Seven men of my party of 12 were evacuated as “gassed,” and five of Ross’s men, including himself. In the meantime I recommended three of my men and two of Ross’s for honours’