The marriage to Nellie wasn't until 1957. Do you know what his marital status was at that time. If he was a widower - then you know that Gertrude had died by then.
Sarah Battersby nee Pickersgill was widowed 1945 & remarried 1949 - didn't waste much time having 2 children by Ross in 1946 & 1948 did she 
She already had a son Wilfred b 1935 died 1975 by her marriage. I notice that daughter S birth is registered under both Ross & Battersby
Yes Sarah Battersby had "J" [still alive] in 1946 and Susan in 1948. They never married, although they had two children together. John F Ross's son "J" tells me that his dad met his mum shortly after WW2. I think the regiment were stationed near Dukinfield or this is where he ended up after he was demobbed. There is another saga that I haven't quite gotten to the bottom of either in the interim! In 1934 I think John Fowler Ross married Mary Ivy Hill in Swindon. I suspect this because of a newspaper article regarding a dispute of a child. "J" Ross (John F Ross's other son) said his dad used to say prayers for a child called Patricia he used to say was his daughter, and low and behold the child in this dispute is called Patricia. I did some digging and ordered their marriage certificate but unfortunately his DOB wasn't on there so I've couldn't prove anything conclusive. Here's what I managed to find so far...
1935
Birth of Patricia M F Ross. 1935. Swindon
1939
Newspaper article North Wilts Herald, 24th February 1939. States John Fowler Ross is not paying child maintenance and Mary is refusing to let him see the child.
1939 Register
25, Cheltenham Street, Swindon
Alfred J King DOB 10/7/1892 Butcher single
Minnie F King Buckley DOB 15/6/1891 Unpaid Domestic Duties. Married.
Reginald V Hill DOB 27/6/1910 Printer’s Traveller. Single
Mary I Ross Briggs DOB 14/6/1914 Paid Domestic Service. Married.
Kenneth J King 10/5/1931. At School. Single
Sidney H Wells. 13/7/1931. At school. Single
Patricia M Ross Biggs Phillips DOB 15/3/1935. Under School Age. Single
Douglas (George) McConnell ?/5/1935 Under School Age. Single
1942
Marriage of Mary J Hill to X Biggs. 1942. Swindon. (The “J” could be a misprint of “I”) Mary would be 28 years old. Patricia would be 7 years old.
1953
Marriage of Patricia M Biggs to George W Phillips. 1953. Swindon. Patricia would be 18 years old.
2001
Death of Patricia Minnie Phillips. Born 15/3/1935. Patricia would be 66 years old.
For some reason I can't manage to upload attachments on here which is a shame but here's the info I have!
