From: Moruya History in photos
MORUYA'S JAMES STUART LESLIE ROSS
Moruya Examiner 22 November 1919
As an entrant in the England to Australia air race of 1919, the aircraft took off from Hounslow on the morning of 13th November 1919, but crashed a few miles away in an orchard near Surbiton Cemetery. Apparently the weather wasn't good, or there was a problem with the aircraft, because the aircraft was heading back towards Hounslow when it was seen spinning out of low cloud. Both pilots, Captain R.M. Douglas and Lieutenant J.L. Ross, were both killed in the accident.
Shortly before the record attempt, the aircraft had been badly damaged in a landing accident, requiring extensive repairs to be undertaken. The enquiry into the accident was irregular and some people thought that there was some kind of 'cover - up' by the Alliance Aircraft Company. They were however exonerated of all blame together with Napiers, whose 450hp Lion engine powered the aircraft.
On Friday last Moruya was plunged into the lowest depth of sorrow, when it became known that Lieutenant Leslie Ross had been killed. For many months past all eyes, not only of his native town, but of the world were centred on the project to be attempted by one of Australia’s noblest sons. Deceased who was the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. J. L. Ross of “The Gunyah”, Gundary, was undoubtedly the bravest and most brilliant boy who ever left these parts. Words fail to express the very deep sorrow that is felt for the heart-broken parents, who have had more than their share of trouble lately through sickness. Mr. Ross’ health having caused considerable anxiety to his family.
Lieutenant Ross, who before the war was an operator at the Pacific Cable Co’s. office in Sydney, had a good fighting record with the Second Australian Squadron, and had done 300 hours flying.
He passed through the Navigation School at Andover. Lieutenant Ross’s duties included the navigation of the machine and charge of the wireless, while he was also to act as assistant pilot.
He belonged to the 2nd Squadron, Australian Flying Corps and enlisted on August 14, 1916, in New South Wales, at the age of 21. He gained his second lieutenancy in the Flying Corps on October 20, 1917, and was promoted to first lieutenant on January 20 1918. He was wounded once but succeeded in reaching his aerodrome safely.
The Sydney “Sun’s” cables had the following:
Disaster has overtaken the Alliance aeroplane, a machine of great pace and range, which left for Australia on Thursday morning and the two gallant airmen who were flying it – Captain R. Douglas and Lieut. J. L. Ross – were killed.
The Alliance plane rose at 11.30 o’clock at Hounslow, and it was given out that the airmen intended to fly to Dijon, about 365 miles in a direct line.
The plane only travelled a little less than five miles, for at Surbiton, one of the outer suburbs of London, the machine crashed with such terrific force that it crushed down a tree into which it fell, the propeller was buried deep into the ground.
Ross was killed outright and Douglas did not live long, though he was alive when the doctor arrived on the scene.
The cause of the crash was a failure of the engine, which was firing intermittently.
