Robert Knox Ross (British Army officer)

Robert Knox Ross
Nickname(s)	"Bobby"
Born	23 August 1893
Died	3 November 1951 (aged 58)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1913–1946
Rank	Major General
Unit	Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
Commands held	2nd Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) 160th Infantry Brigade 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in despatches Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France)

Major General Robert Knox Ross CB DSO MC (23 August 1893 – 3 November 1951) was a senior British Army officer who, during World War II, commanded the 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division throughout the campaign in North-West Europe from June 1944 until May 1945.

Ross was born 23 August 1893, the son of Brigadier General R. J. Ross, he was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He graduated from Sandhurst and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), the second most senior line infantry regiment of the British Army, in February 1913. He served with the 2nd Battalion of his regiment in South Africa and Bermuda.

On the outbreak of World War I, in August 1914, the battalion was sent to the Western Front and Ross was promoted to lieutenant in September, shortly after arrival and, with his battalion, fought in the First Battle of Ypres where he was wounded. In October 1915, he was awarded the Military Cross and received promotion to captain. Ross remained on the Western Front until 1916, upon promotion to the staff and becoming brigade major of the 27th Brigade, and later the 233rd Brigade in Palestine in the Middle Eastern theatre. In 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and became a General Staff Officer Grade II (GSO2) with the 60th (2/2nd London) Division, part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force (EEF). He ended the war in 1918 having been awarded the DSO, MC, and was thrice mentioned in despatches.