Walter Charteris Ross

Walter Charteris Ross was the third son of Colonel George W H Ross, DL and JP of Cromarty. He was commissioned in the Durham Light Infantry [then the 68th Foot] from the Militia on 29 September 1877. He retired from the army on 7 November 1908 in the rank of colonel after a military career that had seen active service in the Afghan War (1878-9) and South Africa (1901-2), where he was badly wounded.

In September 1914, however, he was ‘dug out’ of retirement to command 152nd (1st Highland) Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division TF. He was 57. Ross commanded 152nd Brigade during its baptism of fire at Festubert and Givenchy in the spring of 1915, but was replaced on the eve of the Somme. His successor, Brigadier-General H P Burn was thirteen years Ross’s junior.

After a brief spell at home as GOC 214th Brigade, Ross spent the rest of the war in Salonika. He was knighted in 1919.