In this riveting episode of Rum Ration, Colin and Rejoy 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. 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.

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