Duncan was born at Ballarat, VIC in 1873 to Thomas Ross and Isabella McKay. He married⁽⁴⁾ Christine Anderson in February 1916 and they had at least two sons, Duncan Robert, born in Brunswick East in 1916 and Laurence Alexander, born in Bacchus Marsh in 1918. Duncan had a sister, Florence, who was married to Alexander Kerr, whose brother Robert Kerr is also remembered in the Avenue.

Duncan was a farmer⁽²⁾ in the Bacchus Marsh district when he enlisted in the AIF, 17^th Reinforcements, 7^th Battalion on the 7^th of December 1915, aged 42 - he stated his age as 39. He embarked aboard the HMAT A14 Euripides as an EDP Corporal in April 1916 but reverted to Private a month later and disembarked at Suez, Egypt. The next day he embarked from Alexandria, Egypt and shortly after transferred to the 59^th Battalion and was promoted to Temporary Corporal before disembarking at Plymouth, England in late June.

In July Duncan spent three weeks at the School of Musketry, Tidworth after which he was promoted to EDP Sergeant. He reverted to Private and proceeded overseas to France in late December 1916 to reinforce the 58^th Battalion, eventually joining that unit in February 1917 and was promoted to Lance Corporal. Having been promoted to temporary Corporal just before taking part in the Second Battle of Bullecourt, on the 12^th of May, Duncan was wounded in action - gunshot wound to the back penetrating the chest - he was admitted to the 29^th Casualty Clearing Station and reverted to Lance Corporal. A few days later he was admitted to the 1^st Australian General Hospital, Rouen, France before being evacuated back to England and admitted to the Norfolk War Hospital in early June. Duncan was granted two weeks furlough in August before he embarked for home aboard the Beltana in October, returning to Australia in December and was discharged from the AIF in January 1918.

Duncan Ross died at Ouyen, VIC in 1952, aged 75.

He is listed on the Shire of Bacchus Marsh Roll of Honour, the Bacchus Marsh & District Roll of Honour and the Roll of Honour of S^t. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Bacchus Marsh.

Notes

1. His rank changed so often an investigation was held a a ruling made:-
   EDP/Cpl 4.4.16
   Pte 9.5.16
   T/Cpl 25.5.16
   Pte 10.8.16
   EDP/ Sgt 10.8.16
   Pte 31.12.16
   L/Cpl 4.3.17
   T/Cpl 2.5.17
   L/Cpl 12/5/17
2. He purchased 708 acres when Greystones estate was subdivided.
   The Bacchus Marsh Express 23 Oct 1909
3. He had a sister, Anna Ross or it could refer to Alex N Ross also a farmer in the district.
4. The Melton Express 19 Feb 1916