James Wallace Ross was born in Ballarat and an Accountant by trade, enlisted as a Lieutenant with the 5th Battalion, B Company on 24 August 1914 at the age of 22. His unit embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, on board Transport A3 Orvieto on 21 October 1914. He was admitted to No 1 General Hospital in Heliopolis after receiving a serious gunshot wound to the shoulder on 25 April 1915 as well as being ædangerously ill' due to a facial fistula and bullet wounds. He was later transferred to the 3rd London General Hospital in England on 8 June 1915. He was promoted to Honorary Captain on 26 April 1915 and to commissioned Captain on 12 September 1915.

He returned to Australia 9 June 1915. On 31 December 1915 Captain Ross's appointment was terminated. However, he heeded the call of his country a second time and re-enlisted for service during World War II.
Tree No. 205