Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Pair: Driver G. J. Ross, Royal Horse Artillery

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 3 clasps, Cape Colony, Paardeberg, Transvaal (14039 Dvr: G. J. Ross. R.F.A.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (14039 Dvr: G. J. Ross. R.H.A.) mounted as worn, very fine (2) £100-£140

George Henry Roots, alias George Joseph Ross, was born in Saltley, Birmingham, in 1876. A horse driver, he attested for the Royal Artillery at Newbridge on 17 February 1896, and served in India with “H” Battery from 6 December 1898 to 26 October 1899. Transferred to South Africa, Roots was posted to Ammunition Park No. 1 (Veterinary Hospital) on 1 July 1900, before joining “J” Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, on 1 November 1900. He joined at a time when the Battery was involved in counter-guerilla warfare in the Megaliesberg mountains, following the disaster at Noortgedacht. From January to March 1901, the Battery formed part of Alderson’s column in Major-General French’s sweep through the eastern Transvaal. Changing his name at Elandfontein on 12 January 1902, in accordance with paragraph 2146, King’s Regulations, Roots briefly joined “R” Battery before returning home to England and transferring to the reserve on 29 November 1903.

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