Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Lieutenant

Unit:

"F" Troop, 17th Canadian Field Regiment RCA, 5th Canadian (Armoured) Division, Canadian Army

Awarded on:

October 11th, 1945

Recommendation:
On the night of 16/17 April 1945, “F” Troop of the 17 Canadian Field Regiment was deployed three hundred yards North of the village of Otterloo (Holland). Lieutenant Ross was Gun Position Officer of “F” Troop.
About 0030 hours 17 April 1945 the enemy attacked the town in an effort to break through to rejoin his main forces. Under cover of a heavy wood, the enemy succeeded in getting into the troop command post. Appreciating that he could do nothing for his troop from an enemy occupied house, Lieutenant Ross successfully covered his command post staff while they got out of the house and on to the gun position, where they dug in. The gun position was being heavily mortared and soon was subjected to medium machine-gun fire from both flanks as well as the front. In spite of this concentration of fire, Lieutenant Ross went to each gun detachment in turn to issue clear and concise orders that the position would be held and that every round of small arms ammunition would be used only for sure hit.
As a result, when the enemy arrived in strength, only visible targets were engaged, that is, at about four yards. Soon the troop was completely surrounded and cut off and it was assumed that all ranks had been either killed or captured. But such was far from true. This officer with his troop, for six and one-half long, hectic hours, beat off attack after attack and defended the guns successfully until after first light when assistance arrived to find the men cleaning the guns and having breakfast. During the night Lieutenant Ross made two trips across 300 yards of open country swept by machine-gun fire to contact the nearest infantry position in an endeavour to get a message to his Battery Commander at Battalion Headquarters for additional fire support.
By his quick appreciation of the situation, excellent command and rapid organization of the troop position for defence, this gallant officer enabled the position to be held without the loss of a single gun. As a result of this determined stand the organized attack on the town through the troop position failed.