Efficiency Medal. GV issue with bar 'India' (L-Sjt. T. Ross. Bengal Arty., A.F.I.)

Medal Verification: The medal to Lance-Sergeant Thomas Ross of the Bengal Artillery (Auxiliary Force India) is confirmed entitled per below referenced source:

- EM 'India'. GV issue: Medal was awarded on 29 March 1934, per Indian Army Order No. 128 of 1934

Thomas Ross, son of John Ross and Elizabeth Lynch (a native of Dundee) was born in Stockton-onTees, Co. Durham, England, on 10 May 1889. His father died in 1891, and his widowed mother relocated back to Dundee. Thomas latterly became was one of the large Dundonian expatriate community that was employed in the Jute Industry in Calcutta and West Bengal, British India. United Kingdom Immigration and Passenger Shipping Manifests for the period, record numerous passages Thomas Ross made between The United Kingdom and India, which record him employed in India from at least 1914, through to 1942. Throughout his time in India, he was employed as an 'Overseer'. Thomas was married to Lily Tarbet, and the couple were blessed with severl sons, and one daughter, Lily Tarbet Ross who was born in India on 22 March 1922, and baptized at Barrackpore, West Bengal, on 19 April 1921, the baptism being solemnized by W. Wright, 'Mills Minister', Church of Scotland. At the time of her baptism, Thomas is recorded as being employed as an 'Assistant, Jute Mill', with the Ghorepore Jute Mill (The sprawling Ghorepore Mill, Barrackpore, had been established in 1861, and was part of the MacNeil & Barry group of companies that were latterly sold to Hemraj Mahabir Prasad Poddar (HMP) in 1976-77)

In addition to being a volunteer with the Bengal Artillery of the Auxiliary Force India, he is also recorded as being a Freemason, in which he had been initiated on 12 January 1918, as a member of the Ubique Lodge, of the United Grand Lodge of England at Barrackpore, West Bengal. Lodge. From the 1930's - 1940's Thomas Ross had a residence in his hometown of Dundee located at 29 Murray Street

Interestingly, in April 1945, Thomas Ross, of 29 Murray Street, Dundee, is recorded as being the 'War Convenor' of the Dundee branch of the British-Soviet Society, the local Dundee 'Courier and Advertiser' issue of 30 April 1945, refers to a 'Flag Day' event to raise funds for medical supplies for the Soviet Union

Thomas Ross is recorded to have died in Dundee, Scotland, on 2 April 1976

Condition: About EF

Code: 24872