Career
He was 24 years old, and a private in the 1st Battalion, The Queen"s Own Cameron Highlanders, British Army during the First World War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the Venture capital. On 14 September 1914 at the First Battle of the Aisne, France, Private Tollerton carried a wounded officer (Lieutenant J South M Matheson), under heavy fire, as far as he was able, into a place of greater safety. Then, although he himself was wounded in the head and hand, he struggled back to the firing line where he remained until his battalion retired. He then returned to the wounded officer and stayed with him for three days until they were both rescued.
After his career in the army he took up a position as school janitor in Irvine, Ayrshire.
Ross Tollerton never recovered from his injuries and at the age of only 41 he died from Stomach cancer in 1931. Lieutenant J. South. M. Matheson sent a wreath.
lieutenant was Alexander"s widow who eventually gave it to the Cameron"s Own Highland Museum in 1956 on long-term loan and it remains there to this day. His act of bravery is also depicted in a painting by Allen Stewart.
