Roderick Ross
Encyclopedia
Roderick Ross CVO
CBE
KPM
(24 May 1865–6 March 1943) was Chief Constable
of Edinburgh City Police from 1900 to 1935.
Ross was born in West Helmsdale
in the parish of Kildonan, Sutherland
, the son of a crofter. His namesake, his grandfather, a Chelsea Pensioner
, had been evicted from Kildonan during the Highland Clearances
.
Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a Helmsdale tailor, but soon moved to Edinburgh where he was employed by Sir Andrew McDonald, an eminent clothier and later Lord Provost from 1894 to 1897.
On coming of age at 21 he joined the police. Firstly, the Linlithgow Burgh Police, before moving after a year to Bacup, where he met Robert Peacock. Peacock took him to Kent when he assumed the position of Chief Constable of Canterbury City Police in 1888.
By 1891 Ross was a Sergeant
and had married a local Canterbury girl. He left Canterbury in 1891 to go to Ramsgate Borough Police as Inspector
. Three years later, when the Chief Constable's post became vacant, such was the ability he had shown and such was the high esteem he had earned, that the watch committee appointed him Chief Constable without advertising the post. He left Ramsgate in 1898 to take up the position of Chief Constable of Bradford
, When at Bradford he commenced a programme of reform and started the police band. He left two years later to take up the post of Chief Constable of Edinburgh, a post he held from 1900 to 1935. He was succeeded in Bradford by Joseph Farndale
.
He was appointed Member 4th Class of the Royal Victorian Order
(MVO) in September 1905, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours, and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in July 1934. He was awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) in the 1922 New Year Honours.
When appointed the new Chief Constable of Edinburgh he sponsored the re-establishment of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, now known as the Lothian and Borders Police
Pipe Band. Prior to his appointment the band had struggled as an occasional ad-hoc enterprise. The band wore for many years as its tartan the Ancient Red Ross in his honour, only giving it up shortly after his death and the end of World War II.
Ross introduced police box
es to Edinburgh in 1933. Edinburgh had at the time a population of over 427,000, and an area of over 52000 acres (210.4 km²); it was the largest urban police area in Scotland.
He retired to Portobello, Edinburgh
and died on 6 March 1943 after a short illness in a nursing home at 19 Great King Street, Edinburgh. He is commemorated by a police golfing trophy, the Roderick Ross Challenge Cup, open to serving or retired Chief Officers.
In 1891 Ross married, Elizabeth Mills, the daughter of a Canterbury fruit merchant and former licensed victualler. The couple had thirteen children, the first six born in England. Of the children, one was named after his mentor Sir Robert Peacock and another after his friend Sir Thomas Lipton
. Ross bore a remarkable resemblance to King Edward VII.
Ross and two of his sons were Chief Constables at the same time. Donald Angus Ross (born 1896) was Chief Constable of Argyllshire from 1927 to 1961 and Douglas George Ross
(born 1897) was Chief Constable of Sutherland
from 1933 to 1962.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
KPM
Queen's Police Medal
The Queen's Police Medal is awarded to police officers in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth for gallantry or distinguished service. Recipients may use the post-nominal letters "QPM", although the right to use these was only granted officially on 20 July 1969...
(24 May 1865–6 March 1943) was Chief Constable
Chief Constable
Chief constable is the rank used by the chief police officer of every territorial police force in the United Kingdom except for the City of London Police and the Metropolitan Police, as well as the chief officers of the three 'special' national police forces, the British Transport Police, Ministry...
of Edinburgh City Police from 1900 to 1935.
Ross was born in West Helmsdale
West Helmsdale
West Helmsdale is a small settlement, lying on the right bank of the River Helmsdale, on the east coast of Sutherland, Scottish Highlands and is in the Scottish council area of Highland. The village of Helmsdale lies on the left bank of the River Helmsdale....
in the parish of Kildonan, Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
, the son of a crofter. His namesake, his grandfather, a Chelsea Pensioner
Chelsea pensioner
A Chelsea pensioner is an in-pensioner at the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a retirement home and nursing home for former members of the British Army located in Chelsea, London...
, had been evicted from Kildonan during the Highland Clearances
Highland Clearances
The Highland Clearances were forced displacements of the population of the Scottish Highlands during the 18th and 19th centuries. They led to mass emigration to the sea coast, the Scottish Lowlands, and the North American colonies...
.
Aged 16 he was apprenticed to a Helmsdale tailor, but soon moved to Edinburgh where he was employed by Sir Andrew McDonald, an eminent clothier and later Lord Provost from 1894 to 1897.
On coming of age at 21 he joined the police. Firstly, the Linlithgow Burgh Police, before moving after a year to Bacup, where he met Robert Peacock. Peacock took him to Kent when he assumed the position of Chief Constable of Canterbury City Police in 1888.
By 1891 Ross was a Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
and had married a local Canterbury girl. He left Canterbury in 1891 to go to Ramsgate Borough Police as Inspector
Inspector
Inspector is both a police rank and an administrative position, both used in a number of contexts. However, it is not an equivalent rank in each police force.- Australia :...
. Three years later, when the Chief Constable's post became vacant, such was the ability he had shown and such was the high esteem he had earned, that the watch committee appointed him Chief Constable without advertising the post. He left Ramsgate in 1898 to take up the position of Chief Constable of Bradford
Bradford City Police
-History:Bradford Borough Charter was granted in 1847, Bradford Corporation acquired all the statutory powers off the old Municipal Corporation. 1848 was the year that the City of Bradford Police Force was almagated, with a Borough HQ No...
, When at Bradford he commenced a programme of reform and started the police band. He left two years later to take up the post of Chief Constable of Edinburgh, a post he held from 1900 to 1935. He was succeeded in Bradford by Joseph Farndale
Joseph Farndale
Joseph Farndale CBE KPM was a British police officer who served as Chief Constable of Bradford City Police from 1900 to 1938....
.
He was appointed Member 4th Class of the Royal Victorian Order
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
(MVO) in September 1905, Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in the 1920 civilian war honours, and Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in July 1934. He was awarded the King's Police Medal (KPM) in the 1922 New Year Honours.
When appointed the new Chief Constable of Edinburgh he sponsored the re-establishment of the Edinburgh City Police Pipe Band, now known as the Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police
Lothian and Borders Police is the territorial police force for the Scottish council areas of the City of Edinburgh, East Lothian, Midlothian, Scottish Borders and West Lothian...
Pipe Band. Prior to his appointment the band had struggled as an occasional ad-hoc enterprise. The band wore for many years as its tartan the Ancient Red Ross in his honour, only giving it up shortly after his death and the end of World War II.
Ross introduced police box
Police box
A police box is a British telephone kiosk or callbox located in a public place for the use of members of the police, or for members of the public to contact the police...
es to Edinburgh in 1933. Edinburgh had at the time a population of over 427,000, and an area of over 52000 acres (210.4 km²); it was the largest urban police area in Scotland.
He retired to Portobello, Edinburgh
Portobello, Edinburgh
Portobello is a beach resort located three miles to the east of the city centre of Edinburgh, along the coast of the Firth of Forth, in Scotland. It is now a suburb of Edinburgh, with a promenade fronting on to the wide sand beach....
and died on 6 March 1943 after a short illness in a nursing home at 19 Great King Street, Edinburgh. He is commemorated by a police golfing trophy, the Roderick Ross Challenge Cup, open to serving or retired Chief Officers.
In 1891 Ross married, Elizabeth Mills, the daughter of a Canterbury fruit merchant and former licensed victualler. The couple had thirteen children, the first six born in England. Of the children, one was named after his mentor Sir Robert Peacock and another after his friend Sir Thomas Lipton
Thomas Lipton
Sir Thomas Johnstone Lipton, 1st Baronet, KCVO was a Scotsman of Ulster-Scots parentage who was a self-made man, merchant, and yachtsman. He created the Lipton tea brand and was the most persistent challenger in the history of the America's Cup.-Parentage and childhood:Lipton was born in Glasgow...
. Ross bore a remarkable resemblance to King Edward VII.
Ross and two of his sons were Chief Constables at the same time. Donald Angus Ross (born 1896) was Chief Constable of Argyllshire from 1927 to 1961 and Douglas George Ross
Douglas George Ross
Douglas George Ross was a British police officer who served as Chief Constable of Sutherland from 1933 to 1962.The son of Roderick Ross, then serving in Canterbury City Police, he was born in Ramsgate, Kent, England. After active service with the Royal Scots between 1915 and 1919, he joined the...
(born 1897) was Chief Constable of Sutherland
Sutherland
Sutherland is a registration county, lieutenancy area and historic administrative county of Scotland. It is now within the Highland local government area. In Gaelic the area is referred to according to its traditional areas: Dùthaich 'IcAoidh , Asainte , and Cataibh...
from 1933 to 1962.