John Ross - Waterloo Soldier

Allied armies under the command of the Duke of Wellington faced the French under Napoleon on 18 June 1815. Several Scottish battalions had been hard pressed to hold the line at the cross roads of Quatre Bras two days earlier.

One of these battalions was the 92nd regiment (Gordon Highlanders), and one of the soldiers in this battalion was John Ross who was born in Kincardine in Ross-shire. He survived the battle, later to take up employment as a forester based at Eccles, Penpont where he worked for over 30 years. When he died a fine gravestone was erected at Penpont churchyard. It records several battles in which he had taken part including the Peninsula war as well as Waterloo.

Although sadly fallen into disrepair, the inscription on the gravestone is as follows –

Sacred to the Memory of John Ross who died on the 24th December 1866 aged 76 years. In the 92nd Highlanders he was present and shared in the brilliant victories of Orthes, Nives, Pyrenees and Vittoria and held the Peninsula Medal with four clasps. He also fought in the battle of Waterlooo for which he held that Medal and the special Peninsula Clasp and was one of the heroic few who survived the defence of Quatre Bras Farmhouse and was severely wounded whilst cheering the approach of the Prussian army.
He was afterwards for more than 30 years, Forester, which situation he most faithfully filled to Lauderdale Maitland Esq of Eccles, by whom he was deeply respected.

Gravestone for John Ross, Penpont churchyard