| Accession Number | H05817 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Print silver gelatin |
| Conflict |
First World War, 1914-1918 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Claude Murray Ross, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) from Hawksburn, ...
Description
Studio portrait of Lieutenant (Lt) Claude Murray Ross, Royal Flying Corps (RFC) from Hawksburn, Victoria. A 22 year old travelling engineer with three years of service in the Militia Artillery, he enlisted as a Wheeler Sergeant (service number 1154) in the Australian Field Artillery on 17 August 1914. Sergeant Ross embarked for overseas with the 6th Battery, Second Brigade from Melbourne on 20 October 1914 aboard HMAT Shropshire. He served with the battery at Gallipoli until he took ill and was evacuated to Malta in July 1915. On recovery, he returned to Gallipoli but was evacuated again with illness to Cairo in October 1915. Following his recovery in March 1916, he proceeded to France where he was selected for a commission in the RFC in November 1916. This necessitated his discharge from the AIF on 16 March 1917. Lt Ross flew with 45 Squadron (Special Reserve) RFC and was killed in action on 19 August 1917. He is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France with others who have no known grave.