The very fine Great War Distinguished Conduct Medal recipient’s Silver Presentation Cigarette Case, Regimental Sergeant Major’s Warrant of Appointment, and quantity of related ephemera, photographs and badges, these relating to Warrant Officer 1st Class and Regimental Sergeant Major James ‘Jimmy’ Ross, The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. A pre-war regular, he was recalled from the Reserve’s on the outbreak of the Great War and then severely wounded in action at the Battle of Loos on 26 September 1915. Having returned to active service with the 5th (Lochiel’s) Battalion, he won a very fine Distinguished Conduct Medal, as announced in Army Orders of 20 May 1918 by General Sir Herbert Plumer. The original Army Orders 20 May 1918 Presentation Card is included. Post war, he saw service with the 2nd Battalion, and in July 1923 was promoted to Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant and three years later in July 1926, he was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major. In his last year of service he was the RSM of the Regimental Depot at Inverness, and would be ultimately awarded the Army Meritorous Service Medal. He was the Divisional Sergeant-Major of the Glasgow Division of the Corps of Commissionaires from 1934-1956, and during the Second World War was a Flying Officer with No.123 (6th Glasgow) Squadron, Air Training Corps.
Presentation Silver Cigarette Case, ‘JT&S’ jewellers mark, hallmarks for Birmingham with date letter ‘C’ for 1927 to both sides of the case, with engraved presentation inscription reading: ‘To Regt. Sgt. Major, / J. Ross. 2nd. Bn. / The “Queen’s Own” / Cameron Highlanders, / with best wishes from / Captain F.W. Oakley. / 25th. July 1930.’ The outer case inscribed with the recipient’s initials: ‘JR’.
Together with the following quantity of related ephemera:
A superb card mounted group photograph by Dan Treasurer of Inverness, detailing the squad of Cameron Highlanders under James Ross’ command, this annotated, ‘Presented to Sergt. James Ross By His Squad, 22nd April, 1916.’ The reverse of this, though now unfortunately partly cropped, appears to have the names of those present in the photograph.
Army Orders of 20 May 1918 by General Sir Herbert Plumer, Commanding Second Army, this a colour printed card listing awards, with the name of ‘No. 7020 Sergeant J. Ross, Cameron Highlanders’ printed under the list of names of recipient’s awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. This a presentation document as printed on 21 May 1918 by the Field Survey Company Royal Engineers, and as presented to Ross on the occasion of his award.
A card mounted photograph of a presentation statue of a Cameron Highlander, as presented to the Colonel of the Regiment, the Duke of York (the future King George VI) on the occasion of his marriage in 1923. This depicting the statue by the sculptor H.S. Gamley R.S.A., as printed to commemorate the occasion by Hamilton and Inches in 1923. This believed to have been presented as a keepsake to each of those who had subscribed for the production of the statue, and was Ross was presumably one of those who did so.
Warrant of Appointment for James Ross D.C.M. to be promoted to Warrant Officer 1st Class in the Regular Forces, and appointed Regimental Sergeant Major of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders, dated 22 October 1926.
Regular Army Certificate of Service Red Book, as issued to James Ross D.C.M. on his discharge on 1 July 1931, the inside cover additionally stamped: “Granted the privilege of wearing uniform on special occasions other than political”, as granted under the authority of H.Q. Scottish Command on 9 June 1931.
Two photographs of the recipient, one taken circa the Second World War when he was back in uniform and training recruits, the being a superb image of him in full dress uniform of a Regimental Sergeant Major with the Cameron Highlanders, an wearing his awards, namely the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.
Second World War King’s Badge for Loyal Service.
Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Glengarry Badge, and one other.
British Legion Membership Lapel Badge, enamelled.
France: ”Les Medaille Militaires 1551 Section” Membership Pendant, for the section at La Bassee Nord. Presumably Ross visited this Section at some stage. Enamelled.
The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Association pin badge, enamelled, with King’s Crown.
The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders pin badge, enamelled, with Queen’s Crown.
Cameron Highlanders tip pin, enamelled.
Corps of Commissionaires Lapel Badge, enamelled.
Corps of Commissionaires Badge, and believed to be for a Divisional Sergeant-Major, silver, with jewellers initials ’S&W LD.’, and hallmarks for Birmingham with date letter ‘l’ for 1910, the reverse engraved: ‘To A. Roxburgh 1911’. James Ross became Divisional Sergeant-Major of the Glasgow Division of the Corps of Commissionaires. If our supposition is correct, it is possible that Ross was given and then wore Roxburgh’s badge. This would explain its present within the group.
Another enamelled Scottish pin badge, with the motto ‘Justus Et Tenax’, standing for ‘Just and Steadfast’.
The three page photostat Memorial history of James Ross, his life and service, as compiled by one Angus R. Watts, and produced around the time of his funeral in 1964.
Also a typed obituary.
Some 22 original photographs, and wedding card etc relating to the family of James Ross D.C.M., some Second World War period detailing a soldier with the Cameron Highlanders, and presumably the recipient’s son.
James Ross, known to all as Jimmy, was born on 21 September 1885 in Leith, Scotland, and enlisted into the British Army on 2 September 1904 as a Private (No.7020 later No.2921065) with The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. Posted to the 1st Battalion, he was discharged ‘time-expired’ in 1911, by which time he was a Corporal.
As an Army Reservist he was recalled to the Colours owing to the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, and was promoted to Sergeant with the 5th (Lochiel’s) Battalion. He proceeded to the Western Front in May 1915, and was present with the 5th Cameron’s at the Battle of Loos, where he received severe gun shot wounds on 26 September 1915, and was invalided home. He then spent a period on training duty whilst recovering, and in this period was the recipient of a fine presentation squad photograph.
He rejoined the 5th Battalion at the front during 1917, and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal in Army Orders of 20 May 1918, as published by General Sir Herbert Plumer, Commanding Second Army, with the citation being published in the London Gazette for 3 September 1918.
The citation reads as follows: ‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when acting company sergeant-major. During periods of fighting and under heavy and continuous machine gun and artillery fire he moved about the front line regardless of danger, cheering on the men and assisting the junior N.C.O.’s and setting a most inspiring example to all ranks.’
In July 1918, Ross was promoted to Company Sergeant Major, and on the cessation of hostilities joined the 2nd Battalion. In July 1923, he was promoted to Regimental Quarter-Master Sergeant and three years later in July 1926, he attained the pinnacle, being promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major. In his last year of service he was the RSM of the Regimental Depot at Inverness, and would be ultimately awarded the Army Meritorous Service Medal to add to the Distinguished Conduct Medal, 1914-1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal, and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, that he wore in uniform, and as depicted in an excellent photograph of him contained within the archive.
He was discharged in July 1931, and in 1934 was appointed the Divisional Sergeant-Major of the Glasgow Division of the Corps of Commissionaires, a position he held for the next 21 years. On 26 March 1956, in recognition of his services to the Corps, he was presented with a “wallet of notes” subscribed to by Members of the Glasgow division.
Ross returned to quasi-military service during the Second World War, when he saw service as a Flying Officer with No.123 (6th Glasgow) Squadron, Air Training Corps. Their son David Ross, flew with the Royal Air Force, and was a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross. He was reported as missing in action in June 1944.
Jimmy Ross D.C.M. was a long service member of The Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders Association, and only ever missed one reunion. He died on 21 July 1964 in Glasgow.
