Lieutenant (temp. Capt.) J.S. Ross M.C.

Capt ROSS commands a Rifle Platoon of 16 Column, Special Force.

At MAWLU on 8th May 1944, 16 Column entered the village and was able to occupy it west of the railway line. It was soon discovered that the enemy held bunker positions and other entrenchments including MMG posts on the east side of the railway line. Capt. ROSS was ordered to hold the railway line embankment. Detailed information of the enemy positions was not known and Capt. ROSS was told to get it. Capt. ROSS himself, voluntarily took a section patrol across the railway embankment when it came under heavy fire of all types. The area the patrol had entered was untenable. So after a personal recce of the Jap positions he successfully extricated his patrol. On return to his Column HQ he immediately volunteered to return to the east side of the embankment and act as a 3" Mortar O.P. to bring fire to bear on the positions he had identified. Again he crossed the railway embankment under heavy enemy fire at short range (about 100 yards) and managed to take cover in a borrow pit. In spite of the fact he was under continuous small arms, mortar and grenade fire, he coolly and successfully controlled our own 3" mortar fire. By this time one locality was silenced. Shortly after this incident, Capt. ROSS was ordered to take a patrol to contact a Company of another unit which had been ordered to clear the village on the east side of the railway line. This entailed re-crossing the embankment and crossing the front of the Jap positions at short range. The mission he again carried out coolly and successfully. The next day his platoon was ordered to occupy and hold MAWLU railway station. Although under continuous enemy fire, by his leadership and determination he was able to get his platoon to the objective and, although in an exposed position and under fire from Jap dual purpose A/A guns, he held the railway station for two days.

On 8th May a patrol in Capt ROSS' area suddenly came under heavy automatic fire. The patrol dispersed leaving one man, badly wounded on the railway line. Without hesitation, Capt. ROSS doubled forward, threw two grenades at the enemy position and, still under fire, rescued the man who unfortunately was dead.

On 23 May 1944, Capt. ROSS was placed in command of two platoons and ordered to establish a forward block in the east side of the Kyusanlai Pass. He established the position and then by a series of personal patrols located and pin-pointed the dispositions of the dug-in Japs confronting him. Inevitably these patrols came in enemy defensive fire.

Capt ROSS' work has been outstanding. At all times his cheerfulness, confidence and determination to carry out his duties to the minutest details have infused the same qualities into all with whom he has come into contact. He has never permitted thought of personal danger to cramp his initiative or interfere with his conception of duty.

(Signed) T.Brodie, Brigadier,
Comd. 14 Inf Bde. 31st May 1944.