Jan 27, 1897
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Born in Halton County, Ontario
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Sep 20, 1915
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Attested into the 70th
Battalion CEF in St. Thomas, Ontario
Ø Number 123729
o His initial number
was 189175, but in April of 1916 it was changed to 123729
Ø Next of kin given
as Lizzie Ross, mother, West Lorne, Ontario
Ø Previous occupation
given as Farmer
Ø No previous
military experience given
Ø Religion given as
Church of England
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Nov 6, 1915
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Transferred to the 91st
Battalion CEF to continue training in St. Thomas and was assigned to “A”
Company
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Jun 25, 1916
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The battalion boarded a train
in St. Thomas to head off to war
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Jun 29, 1916
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Embarked the SS Olympic in
Halifax, Nova Scotia
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Jul 5, 1916
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Disembarked in Liverpool,
England and proceeded to Otterpool
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Jul 15, 1916
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Transferred to the 12th
Reserve Battalion in West Sandling to continue training
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Aug 20, 1916
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Transferred to the 75th
Battalion
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Aug 21, 1916
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Arrived at the CBD (Canadian
Base Depot) in the Rouelles Camp, Havre, France and TOS (Taken On Strength)
the 75th Battalion
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Oct 7, 1916
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Transferred to the 21st
Battalion without having left the base depot
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Oct 8, 1916
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TOS the 21st
Battalion
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Oct 9, 1916
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After leaving the base depot, Private
Ross joined the 21st Battalion resting in Val de Maison, France as
part of a draft of 80 reinforcements to replace the losses the previous month
at Courcelette
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May 18, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from
duty with the Training Battalion
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May 30, 1917
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Reported sick but returned to
duty the same day
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Jul 30, 1917
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Attached to the 4th
CIB (Canadian Infantry Brigade) for duty
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Aug 8, 1917
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Admitted to the No. 5 CFA
(Canadian Field Ambulance) with a diagnosis that reads Dermatitis. He was transferred the same day to the Divisional
Rest Station for treatment
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Aug 14, 1917
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Transferred to the No. 10
Canadian Field Ambulance to continue his recovery and the diagnosis was
changed to read Herpes Facilis Cevorcalas
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Sep 17, 1917
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Discharged to duty with the 21st
Battalion from the field ambulance
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Oct 22, 1917
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Granted 10 days leave
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Nov 5, 1917
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Rejoined the battalion from
leave
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Nov 9, 1917
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The men of the 21st
Battalion were involved in 2 separate incidents on this date involving
casualties from artillery fire. The first
was a work party that suffered heavy casualties when an artillery shell
exploded in the midst of a company of men moving up to the work area. The second involved an artillery barrage on
the front line trench occupied by the battalion which caused many
casualties. It is unclear which
incident that Private Ross was involved in, but he suffered shrapnel wounds
to his side, arms, chin, and both legs.
He was evacuated to the No. 1 Canadian Field Ambulance for first aid
before being transferred to the No. 10 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) for
treatment.
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Nov 12, 1917
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Private William Herbert Ross
died of his wounds while at the No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station and was
buried in the Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, south of Poperinghe, Belgium
![](http://21stbattalion.ca/gravesos/grave_ross_wh.jpg)
Following the war the British
War Medal, Victory Medal, Plaque (Dead Man’s Penny) and Scroll were sent to
his father, William Ross, RR No. 2, West Lorne, Ontario
There was no Memorial Cross
issued
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William
Herbert Ross is honoured on the West Lorne, Ontario War Memorial
![](http://21stbattalion.ca/photostz/west-lorne-memorial.jpg)
![](http://21stbattalion.ca/photosos/ross_wh-west-lorne-mem.jpg)
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