Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Great War memorial plaque to Second Lieutenant G. E. H. Ross, 8th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment, who was killed in action at La Boiselle on 3 July 1916, in which action his Commanding Officer, Lieutenant-Colonel Adrian Carton de Wiart was awarded the Victoria Cross

Memorial Plaque (Gwilliam Emmanuel Henry Ross) with Buckingham Palace enclosure, in original card envelope, extremely fine £100-£140

Gwiliam Emmanual Henry Ross was educated at Crypt Grammar School, Gloucester, later being articled to the City Surveyor. He enlisted as No 2768 in F Coy, 1/5th (Territorial) Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment on the outbreak of war and was transferred to C Coy before going to France in March 1915. He was granted a temporary commission in the 8th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment on the 8th November 1915 and was in the Somme sector for the British offensive, planned for July of 1916.

On 3 July the 8th Gloucesters were situated in the line near Ovillers-La-Boisselle, near which a huge mine had been detonated on 1 July. The village was, by now, merely a heap of rubble, amongst which the Germans had built fearsome defensive positions. It had resisted strong attempts at capture on the preceding two days and at dawn on 3 July the Gloucesters were amongst several battalions given the order to take the village, come what may. Second Lieutenant Ross was killed in the taking and holding of La Boisselle. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial. He left a widow, Gladys Mary Ross (née Berrow) whom he had married on 1 June that year.