John Lindsay Ross was born in Ballarat, Victoria, was single and a Teacher when he enlisted in the 27th Battalion, D Company on 20 November 1914 at the age of 20. His unit embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A2 Geelong on 31 May 1915. Whilst in Armentieres, on May 5th 1916 he suffered a perforating gunshot wound to the right arm fracturing the humerus and injuring the muscle nerve. He returned to Australian to recover and the wound healed, but there was paralysing damage to the muscles of the forearm. According to a medical report filed 30 January 1917 the bone eventually healed and the nerve injury eventually recovered. Ross was released to active service.

Ross returned to Europe, embarking at Adelaide aboard the Ulysses on 22 December 1917. In January 1919 he applied for and was granted leave to attend Leeds University until his return to Australia aboard the Devon on 27 November 1919.
Tree No. 2585a