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The above photograph is of a memorial in St. Paul's Bloor Street Anglican Church in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Lt. Ross was killed according to the memorial on May 10, 1918 while second in command of Motor Launch Number 254. Does anyone have any more information on this officer, his biography, his death, the battle in which he died and M.L. 254 itself?
Thanks,
John
Toronto

At the UK National Archives ADM 273/7 Page 223: Gordon Fraser Ross. RNAS Officers Service. This can be requested using their shop online facility.
ADM 337/122/233 Page: 233. John F S Cridland . Gordon F Ross. Service record as RNVR Officer is online:
http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documen...p;resultcount=1

there is a photograph here http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm...casualty=365716
and another memorial

ML254 went alongside VINDICTIVE to bring off the crew. In the process she had been hit by a German 15 cm shell which killed the First Lieutenant (Ross) and a rating. Badly damaged, ML254 managed to get out the harbour at Ostende under heavy fire and in a sinking state and transferred the survivors to a destroyer before foundering. The captain of ML254, Lt Drummond was awarded the VC.

Ross was the only man lost that day from ML 254.

Best wishes
David

I've sent a lot of info on Ross (photo, newspaper articles, etc.) to the Canadian Virtual Memorial. View them here:

http://www.vac-acc.gc.ca/remembers/sub.cfm...casualty=365716



(click on thumbnails to enlarge and view the full article - some details of his service are contained within)


- Marika

JOHN, find here the two awards to crew of ML 254, Lt ROSS receiving a `Mention' ;

DRUMMOND Geoffrey H N/E Lt. RNVR 79D214 M.L. 254
Vice Admiral Dover 28.08.18 Gazetted
Operations against Ostend 9.10 May, 1918 VC
Lieutenant Godfrey H Drummond.
Volunteered for rescue work in command of M.L. 254. Following "Vindictive" to Ostend, when off the piers a shell burst on board, killing Lieutenant Gordon Ross and deck hand J. Thomas, wounding the coxswain, and also wounding Lieutenant Drummond in three places. Notwithstanding his wounds he remained on the bridge, navigated his vessel, which was already seriously damaged by shell fire, into Ostend harbour, placed her alongside Vindictive, and took off two officers and 38 men - some of whom were killed and many wounded while embarking. When informed that there was no one alive left on board he backed his vessel out clear of the piers before sinking exhausetd from his wounds. When H.M.S. Warwick fell in with M.L. 245 off Ostend half an hour later theblatter was in a simking condition. It was due to the indomitable courage of this very gallant officer that the majority of the crew of the Vindictive were rescued.

ROSS Gordon F N/E Lt. RNVR 79D224 M.L. 254
Vice Admiral Dover 28.08.18 N/E Ostend 9-10.05.18 Mentioned in Despatches
Lt. Gordon F. Ross, R.N.V.R. (Killed in action).
Volunteered for rescue work in M.L. 254 - killed in the entrance to Ostend Harbour.

Regards Sadsac

Thanks Sadsac for your consideration in pointing us to this information.

John