Ross Drysdale Plews

Home > All Profiles > Ross Drysdale Plews

Rank	Private 331452
Medals	1914 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal
Regiment	Highland Light Infantry, 9th (Glasgow Highland) Battalion
Military Service	The 9th HLI landed at Le Havre on 5th November 1914 and served in France from then on, initially in 5th Brigade 2nd Division. The Battalion transferred to 100th Brigade, 33rd Division 29 May 1916 in the run up to the Battle of the Somme. According to his records Plews reached the front on 13th October 1915 towards the end of the Battle of Loos. At that point the Battalion was taking its turn in the trenches near Cambrin. On the 23rd October there is a comment in the Battalion War Diary that “The men of the last draft received by us from our 3rd Battn are exceedingly good and all the company commanders report favourably upon them” and it seems likely that Plews was one of this draft.
Born	c1897 Glasgow
Death	15th July 1916
Circumstances of Death	Nothing specific is known about Plews’ death but it is noteworthy that in one of the Medal Rolls he is described as “presumed dead 15.7.16.” This suggests he was posted missing after the action of High Wood on 14th/15th July in which the 9th HLI suffered severely.
Age	19
Memorial	Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 15 C.
CWGC Information	Son of John and Christina Plews, of 34 Wilton St., Glasgow.
Parents	John Plews (-1913) & Christina Ross (1854-1931)
Father's Occupation	Warehouseman, at a pork butcher (1911)
Siblings	George R (1884-1889), John C (1886-1967), George R (1889-1958), Agnes G (1891-1951), Margaret C (1894-1969)
Spouse	Unmarried
Education	Not known
Occupation	Tramway assistant. This is Plews’ occupation in the 1911 census when he is only 14 so it is probably his first job after leaving school. It is not known how he was employed when he enlisted.
1901 Census	48 Oran Street, Maryhill, Glasgow
1911 Census	11 Braeside Street, Woodside, Glasgow
Home Address	1915 – 34 Wilton Street, Woodside, Glasgow
Glasgow Necropolis	Compartment Mnema Lair 128
Other Memorials	Scottish National War Memorial East Park Church War Memorial (now in Kelvin Stevenson Memorial Church)
Acknowledgements and Sources	Much of the information on which this profile is based is drawn from various internet sources which are listed below. The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis also wish to make full acknowledgement and thanks for the permitted use of any information or images generously supplied specifically for exhibition, publication or display in connection with The Roll of Honour and accompanying profiles to Ancestry, and Find my past. Commonwealth War Graves Commission Family Search Scotlands People The Long, Long Trail The Scottish War Memorials Project Colonel A K Reid Shoulder to Shoulder: The Glasgow Highlanders, 9^th Bn Highland Light Infantry 1914-1918. 1988 9^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, War Diary 1 November 1914-30 April 1916 (TNA WO95/1347/3) 9^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry, War Diary 1 May 1916-31 May 1919 (TNA WO95/2431/1)

Gallery

Ross Drysadale Plews Monument - Mnema

back

Credits

Compiled by Morag Fyfe, Historical and Genealogical Researcher for The Friends of Glasgow Necropolis.

A Registered Scottish Charity: No SC037918
Photographers: Ruth Johnston, Scott Kerr, David Hanlon, John Gair