Soldier Record

Corporal Walter Scott Ross was my great-uncle. He enlisted ten days after his 18th birthday on 19 July 1915 in his birth town of Walsall. He served in the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire (regiment 19571) attaining the rank of corporal on 3 August 1916. Six days later he was severely wounded, according to his discharge papers, with multiple gunshot wounds to the arm, face and body, probably during an attack on a machine gun position at Waterlot Farm as part of the Somme offensive.

He was severely wounded with multiple gunshot wounds to the arm, face and body.

After hospital treatment, which included the amputation of an arm, Walter was discharged to pension on 18 March 1917. A year later he married Lottie Young in Alvechurch, Worcestershire. Walter died in April 1920, according to his death certificate, of suppurative meningitis (influenza) - it is hard to believe that his war wounds were not a contributory cause. I believe Walter is not recorded on any war memorial and lies in an unmarked grave in Alvechurch churchyard, therefore, I am very pleased to record his sacrifice here. Walter's sister, my grandmother, Norah never forgot him and almost 75 years after his death left a bequest in her will to the British Limbless Ex-Service Men's Association. He is not forgotten.