Rum Ration Podcast Episode 16: The Ross Rifle – A Cautionary Tale for Procurement
Westmount, Quebec – 06 July 2025: In this riveting episode of the Rum Ration Podcast, your hosts take aim at the Ross Rifle—a weapon born from patriotic zeal and political ambition, but ultimately forged into a symbol of failure on the Western Front.
Meant to establish Canada’s self-sufficiency in arms production, the Ross was praised for its accuracy but doomed by its tight tolerances, poor trench reliability, and incompatibility with standard British ammunition. Through firsthand accounts, including soldiers discarding their Rosses for Lee-Enfields mid-battle, the hosts unpack how political pride and procurement shortcuts cost lives.
The Royal Montreal Regiment (RMR) commenced its service in World War I equipped with the Ross rifle. During the mobilization at Valcartier in 1914, the Regiment, although only possessing 300 rifles, diligently trained every man in their handling and care, continuously rotating the weapons among sections.
However, the Ross rifle was quickly found to be ill-suited for the demanding conditions of active service. By April 1915, during the fierce Second Battle of Ypres, a significant number of Royal Montrealers proactively discarded their Ross rifles on the battlefield. They instead adopted the Lee-Enfield, recognizing it as a more reliable weapon that better met the severe requirements of combat. This informal, yet widespread, transition preceded official directives.
From its early promise to its humiliating withdrawal in 1916—ordered by General Haig himself—the Ross story highlights the peril of choosing nationalism over practicality. And yet, in a twist of irony, the same rifle would go on to serve snipers with deadly precision. It’s a tale of innovation, hubris, and hard-learned lessons that still resonate today in defence policy.
Available now at rumration.ca or wherever you get your podcasts (Apple, Amazon, Pocket Casts, Spotify, and YouTube).
