John (Jack) was born at Warracknabeal, VIC in 1895 to John Ross and Janet Monroe.

Jack was a farm labourer, probably at Balliang, VIC, near Bacchus Marsh when he enlisted in the AIF on the 18^th of June 1917, aged almost 22. He was allotted to the 25^th Reinforcements, 8^th Battalion in August and embarked aboard the HMAT A71 Nestor in late November, transshipping in Egypt and disembarked at Southampton, England, via Taranto, Italy in January 1918.

In April 1918 Jack joined his unit in France. He spent two weeks at a Casualty Clearing Station with influenza in late June before he was wounded in action in August during the Battle of Amiens - shell wound to the head (right eye), severe. He was admitted to hospital in Boulogne, France before being evacuated back to England and admitted to the 1^st London General Hospital. Jack embarked for Australia aboard the SS Gaika in November, returning to Australia in late December and was discharged from the AIF in January 1919.

John William Ross died at Elwood, VIC in 1958, aged 63.

He is listed on the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour.