15 items relating to Lieut. A.H. Ross's service in the Second World War as Platoon Commander in the Hertfordshire Battalion of the Home Guard, including Platoon photographs, Special Army Orders, service certificate, letter from Lt-Col. H. K. O'Kelly.

The fifteen items in fair condition, lightly aged and worn, laid down or pinned to leaves removed from an album. Items One to Three: three black and white landscape photographs, each around 15 x 20 cm. The first photograph, captioned 'November 1940', shows Ross standing in a field, in front of a platoon in two columns, shouldering rifles with bayonets. The second photograph, captioned '7. C. Coy of Batt., Herts Home Guard 1943', shows twenty-six officers, in three rows, in front of the entrance to a municipal building. The front row, seated, consists of seven senior officers with batons. The third photograph, captioned 'Officers of No 7 C. Coy. 7th Batt. Herts Home Guard Xmas 1944'. Pasted onto the reverse of the last photograph are two slips of paper (Items Four and Five) with crude woodcuts of 'German Tanks

1-8'. Item Six: Autograph Letter Signed (1p., 12mo) from Lt-Col. Henry Kane O'Kelly ('H K O'Kelly') to Ross, on his letterhead of Highfield, Chipperfield, Hertfordshire, dated 21 October 1944. Expressing his thanks to Ross for 'the great influence for good you brought into the H Q & for all the hard work & effort you put into your PL, which has been so greatly appreciated by everyone.' Item Seven: Mimeographed 'SPECIAL ORDER', dated 30 October 1944 and headed '7th Hertfordshire Battalion Home Guard Order No. 201 by Lieut. Colonel H. K. O'Kelly, D.S.O. Station, Dunny Lane, Chipperfield, T/N Kings Langley 7623'. With wear at foot repaired on reverse. 'In view of the imminent disbandment of the Sub-District, and the Standing Down of units of the Home Guard, I take this opportunity to congratulate all ranks for their fine work and to thank them for their loyal co-operation throughout my period of command.' Item Eight: Certificate, printed in red and black, with Royal Crest and facsimile signature of King George V ('George R.I.'). 1p., 8vo. Pinned at head to leaf from album. The words 'THE HOME GUARD' in large letters in red at foot. The certificate reads (with typed additions in square brackets): 'In the years when our Country was in mortal danger [ALEXANDER HOWARD ROSS] who served [14 May 1940 - 31 Dec. 1944] gave generously of his time and powers to make himself ready for her defence by force of arms and with his life if need be.' Item Nine: Mimeographed order (1p., foolscap 8vo), dated 4 July 1944 and headed '7th Hertfordshire Battalion Home Guard, Order No. 192 b Lieut. Colonel H. K. O'Kelly, D.S.O. Station, Dunny Lane, Chipperfield, T/N Kings Langley 7623'. 'Lieut. A. H. Ross, C.B.E. C Coy.' is listed as one of the recipients of a certificate for good service. In pencil at foot: 'Strength of Battalion 2,140 officers & men'. Item Ten: Printed OHMS label (1p., 7 x 10.5 cm), made out in manuscript to 'H. Ross 1st Lieut - O.C no 4 Platoon 7. C. Company 7th Batt. Herts Home Guard May 1940'. Item Eleven: Printed official communication (2pp., 16mo), in red and black, reading, beneath royal crest: 'The Under-Secretary for War presents his compliments and by Command of the Army Council has the honour to transmit the enclosed Awards granted for service during the war of 1939-1945.' Docketed at bottom right: 'defence medal | 1939-1945'. Laid down on scrap from album, so that the second page listing the ten Second World War campaign medals is partly obscured. Torn into three pieces. Item Twelve: Ross's printed letterhead ('Wilstone, Tring, Herts.') as platoon commander of No. 4 Platoon, No. 18 Company, Hertfordshire Battalion, Home Guard. Torn from the top of a letter. Items Thirteen to Fifteen: three printed Special Army Orders from the king ('GEORGE R. I.') to the Home Guard, dated 14 May 1943, 14 May 1944 and 14 November 1944, each printed on both sides of a piece of paper around 12 cm square. The first two are), on the third and fourth anniversaries of its formation, the third announcing to the Home Guard that 'you have fulfilled your charge'. Ross's career is described in Who Was Who as follows: 'in Who Was Who: 'Entered service of Gold Coast Government, 1905; served as Assistant District Commissioner, District Commissioner, and acting Provincial Commissioner in Ashante, Northern Territories of Gold Coast; acting Secretary for Native Affairs, 1919; Provincial Commissioner, Sierra Leone, 1920; Commissioner of the Southern Province, Sierra Leone, 1920-28; County Councillor, Hertfordshire; Platoon Commander Herts Bn Home Guard, 1940'.