John Ross (VC)

John Ross

John Ross VC
Born 1822
Inch, Scotland
Died 23 October 1879 (aged 56-57)
London, England
Buried at St. Pancras and Islington Cemetery
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Sergeant
Unit Royal Sappers and Miners
Battles/wars Crimean War
Awards Victoria Cross
Medaille Militaire (France)

John Ross VC (1822 – 23 October 1879) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Contents

Details

Ross was about 33 years old, and serving as a corporal in the Corps of Royal Engineers, British Army, in the Crimean War, when he undertook the actions for which he later was awarded the VC.

On 21 July 1855 at Sebastopol, Crimea, Corporal Ross went out at night in charge of a working party of 200 men each carrying an entrenching tool and a gabion, and before morning they had connected the 4th parallel right attack with an old Russian rifle-pit in front. On 23 August the corporal was in charge of the advance from the 5th parallel right attack on the Redan in placing and filling 25 gabions under a very heavy fire. Again, on 8 September he crept up to the Redan at night and returned to report its evacuation, bringing with him a wounded man.

He later achieved the rank of sergeant.

The medal

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Engineers Museum in Chatham, Kent.

References

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