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WOII Noel Ross (originally Rosenberg)
Service No: 4915089.Born Lichfield, Staffordshire. 15th November 1920 Passed Away 25th April 2012
Service: 1937 to 1974
EARLY DAYS:
He left school and became a labourer before joining the South Staffordshire Regiment of the British Army on 7th October 1937 just before his 17th birthday. He joined as many young men of the day did by telling the recruiting officers that he was older than he really was.
Transfer to the Parachute RegimentHe first joined the Army Air Corps as a parachutist before transferring to the Parachute Regiment in 1941. During his service he served in Italy, Africa, France, Aden, Palestine & Arabian Peninsula, Hargeisa in Somalia, Wuppertal Germany, Nee soon FETC Singapore, Northern Ireland and Taunton his final posting.
ActionBy September 1944 Noel was a Lance Corporal in 10 Platoon of C Company. Landing on Ginkel Heath on 18/08/1944 Noel took part in the early actions against the German blocking line on the Dreijenseweg before distinguishing himself in the hollow on 20/09/1944 when his company commander, Major Powell, was ordered to select one man to stay behind to provide covering fire for the general withdrawal towards Oosterbeek. Noel was the man selected and given a Bren with 12 full magazines and 6 Mills and 6 phosphorous grenades. Giving covering fire the remnants of the 156 Battalion made it back to friendly territory to be joined later by Noel who managed to evade the Germans.
He later distinguished himself in the defence of the Oosterbeek perimeter and was one of the few members of the Battalion to cross the river during Operation Berlin.
He was recommended for a Distinguished Conduct Medal but this was downgraded to a Military Medal and his citation is as follows:
During the entire action at Arnhem this NCO was an example to all around him for his exhibition of coolness and courage under fire. On numerous occasions he volunteered to carry messages under fire; he personally killed a large number of the enemy at different times and whenever circumstances were serious he would be heard encouraging and steadying those around him. He was particularly conspicuous on the 20th September 1944 when the remnants of the Brigade were surrounded by the enemy in a hollow in the woods, standing up in full view of the enemy in the face of intense fire to direct the fire of other men on the enemy positions.
Decorations
- Military Medal (MM) for gallantry and distinguished service in the field
- British Empire Medal for service in the Far East
- 1939-1945 Star,
- Africa Star with a mention in dispatches
- France & Germany Star
- Italy Star
- General Defence Medal
- 1939-1945 War Medal
- GSM for Northern Ireland and Malay Peninsula 1964-66, 1951-54
- GSM Clasps for Canal Zone, Arabian Peninsula 1957-6, Cyprus 1955-59, Palestine 1945-1948, Palestine
- Long Service and Good Conduct medal and bar
- Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM)