Granton War Memorial

John Ross was one of the earliest casualties among the men named on the Granton War Memorial. He was aged 27 years and was serving as a Guardsman (Private) in the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards when he was killed in action on 18th December 1914.

He had served for seven years as a regular soldier and had then transferred to the reserve. When war broke out in August 1914 he was immediately called up for service and went to France with the British Expeditionary Force. He arrived in France on 22nd September 1914 and took part in the early fighting in the Mons area.

Before he was called up he worked as an engineman with Messrs A B Fleming & Co, Caroline Park, Granton. This firm was described in the Edinburgh & Leith Post Office Directory as the ιScottish printing ink factory and chemical works’. This is his only known connection with Granton but, as a single man, he probably had lodgings in the area. His mother, Mrs J Ross, lived at 3 North Richmond Street, Edinburgh which is in the St Leonards area. In terms of transport links at that time it would probably not have been convenient to travel daily from his mother’s house to his workplace in Granton.

John Ross had no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium.