S. John Ross, the "Sillhouette Man", an American soldier in Australia during WW2

S. JOHN ROSS
THE SILHOUETTE MAN
AN AMERICAN SOLDIER
IN AUSTRALIA DURING WW2

visits since 12 August 2007

Photo:- Peter Dunn

S. John Ross, the "Silhouette Man" at the Brisbane
Exhibition (Ekka) on Saturday 11 August 2007

I had a very brief chat with S. John Ross at the Brisbane Exhibition on Saturday 11 August 2007. I remember him well from my boyhood days in Townsville attending the Townsville show. I remember mum and dad both had their silhouettes cut out by S. John Ross at the Townsville Show, probably back in the late 1950's or early 1960's.

I had previously heard a rumour that he had been an American soldier in Australia during WW2. When I spotted him in his usual location at the Brisbane Ekka I briefly asked him was the story true. "Yes", he said "I was here, I was at Lennons Hotel". I think he said he was in the Special Services in the 927th? or something like that. I should have written it down.

S. John Ross came to Australia as an American soldier in 1942. He has stated that his job was to look after celebrity VIPs like Bob Hope and Jack Benny during WW2. His unit apparently needed some good drivers to drive the celebrities around so he requested some WAAAF's. One of the 10 WAAAF's provided went on to become his wife Phyllis who he married in 1945.

Photo:- Peter Dunn