ALEC ROSS, died peacefuly this morning. Alec was a bandsman in the Seaforth Highlanders when war broke out. In a very short time he found himself serving as a stretcher bearer in northern France. Alec was captured at St.Valerie and then spent two and a half years working as a medical orderly in a military hospital in Rouen. Eventually he found himself in Lamsdorf where he was detailed to look after Douglas Bader. When Bader was sent to Colditz Alec volunteered to go with him. How many people can claim to have volunteered to go to Colditz?

note: In many texts he´s called "Alex" but he always signed his name with "Alec".

4th of September 2003

KENNETH LOCKWOOD will be travelling to Colditz next week to do some filming with a television team. Kenneth is 92 in a couple of weeks. I might just pop over as it is a chance to do a really nice photoshoot with him.

9th of september 2003

Colditz Society member Dave Windle send this report on Alec Ross´funeral that took place today

Dear All,
This afternoon I attended Alex Ross's funeral at Wrabness in Essex.
Alex was buried in a 'Green Burial' site on a nature reserve run by Essex
Nature Trust.
With each burial a tree is planted and, eventually, a small forest will grow
on what was an open field. The field is on the reverse slope of the southern
bank of the river Stour. The view is magnificent and I'm sure Alex would
have approved of his familys' decision to bury him there. The weather was
beautiful, as was the sky. The sound of bagpipes brought us to the graveside
and, recalling Alex's musical skills, we listened to a clarinet rendition of
'Stranger on the Shore' as the coffin was lowered into the grave. There was
not a dry eye among us at that point.
The Colditz Society was represented by Richard Belton ( Alex's next door
neighbour and Society member) and myself. There were flowers from Bjarni in
Denmark. At Kenneth's request I was pleased to also represent the Colditz
Association. Patrick Gale, on behalf of the Society has sent a donation to
the Day Care centre that Alex sometimes went to for his lunch. A sad but
moving farewell to an old friend.