L/Cpl
John Edward Russell
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 26/04/1891 |
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Place of birth: Kendal, Westmorland, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Last known residence: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Profession: Policeman |
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Religion: Church of England |
Army information
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Country: Verenigd Koninkrijk |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Lance Corporal |
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Service number: 206364 |
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Enlistment place: Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Scotland, United Kingdom |
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Units: — Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), 1st Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 26/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Gheluvelt Wood, Geluveld, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 26 |
Cemetery
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Tyne Cot Cemetery Plot: LV Row: B Grave: 4 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 5
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Last known residence | ||
| #3 | Enlistment place | ||
| #4 | Place of death (approximate) | ||
| #5 | Sterfteplaats |
My story
John Edward Russell, a former Policeman, was born on the 26th of April 1891 in Kendal, Westmoreland in England, The United Kingdom. He was the son of Thomas and Agnes Russell and had one brother and sister named Thomas and Jane. On the 17th of September 1915, John Edward married Agnes Milliken in Glasgow.
John Edward enlisted in Glasgow, Lanarkshire in England, The United Kingdom. He would later serve as a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), Part of the 13th Brigade, of the 5th Division.
The 1st Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division, was involved in operations during the latter weeks of October 1917 as part of the Battle of Passchendaele, with a significant engagement on October 26th.
The 5th Division launched an attack at 5:40 AM on October 26th, with the 13th Brigade leading the advance. The battalion's objective was to push forward, but their attack, conducted down the valley of the Scherriabeek, was severely hampered because the ground was an "impassable morass." They attempted to advance under fire from the direction of Gheluvelt.
Despite the difficult conditions, B Company of the battalion managed to establish contact with the adjacent 20th Brigade on the right flank. C Company was later ordered to extend the line towards the Menin Road to organize scattered troops and hold the line. C Company also attempted, but failed, to capture German-held pillboxes north of the road. The main line, running from the Menin Road to the west of the Scherriabeek, was held by elements of A and C Companies, alongside parts of the 8th and 9th Battalions Devonshire Regiment.
At 5:15 PM, information was received that German forces were advancing from Gheluvelt towards the battalion's position, leading to a British artillery response following an S.O.S. signal. However, the German counter-attack materialized mainly as a scattered bombardment. By evening, the attacking troops had been forced to fall back to their original starting line.
The 1st Battalion was eventually relieved from the line, first moving to Bedford House and then to Ridge Wood Camp for rest. The entire engagement on October 26th, conducted in extremely difficult conditions due to the mud and bad weather, resulted in 347 casualties for the battalion.
Lance Corporal, aged 26, was Killed In Action on the 26th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Gheluvelt Wood, Geluveld at 28.J.22.a.32.20. His remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LV, Row B, Grave 4.
John Edward enlisted in Glasgow, Lanarkshire in England, The United Kingdom. He would later serve as a Lance Corporal in the 1st Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), Part of the 13th Brigade, of the 5th Division.
The 1st Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment), part of the 13th Brigade of the 5th Division, was involved in operations during the latter weeks of October 1917 as part of the Battle of Passchendaele, with a significant engagement on October 26th.
The 5th Division launched an attack at 5:40 AM on October 26th, with the 13th Brigade leading the advance. The battalion's objective was to push forward, but their attack, conducted down the valley of the Scherriabeek, was severely hampered because the ground was an "impassable morass." They attempted to advance under fire from the direction of Gheluvelt.
Despite the difficult conditions, B Company of the battalion managed to establish contact with the adjacent 20th Brigade on the right flank. C Company was later ordered to extend the line towards the Menin Road to organize scattered troops and hold the line. C Company also attempted, but failed, to capture German-held pillboxes north of the road. The main line, running from the Menin Road to the west of the Scherriabeek, was held by elements of A and C Companies, alongside parts of the 8th and 9th Battalions Devonshire Regiment.
At 5:15 PM, information was received that German forces were advancing from Gheluvelt towards the battalion's position, leading to a British artillery response following an S.O.S. signal. However, the German counter-attack materialized mainly as a scattered bombardment. By evening, the attacking troops had been forced to fall back to their original starting line.
The 1st Battalion was eventually relieved from the line, first moving to Bedford House and then to Ridge Wood Camp for rest. The entire engagement on October 26th, conducted in extremely difficult conditions due to the mud and bad weather, resulted in 347 casualties for the battalion.
Lance Corporal, aged 26, was Killed In Action on the 26th of October 1917. He was initially buried near Gheluvelt Wood, Geluveld at 28.J.22.a.32.20. His remains were later exhumed and interred at The Tyne Cot Cemetery, Plot LV, Row B, Grave 4.
Sources 6
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1 Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (The National Archives, KEW (TNA), WO 95/1555/1). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 372) https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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Census Returns of Schotland, 1901 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
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McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: The Day by Day Account (Londen: Arms & Armour Press, 1995), p 144-146 Sources used |
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Soldiers' Effects Records (National Army Museum, Chelsea (NAM) 1901-60; NAM Accession Number: 1991-02-333). https://www.nam.ac.uk/ Sources used |
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War Office and Air Ministry: Service Medal and Award Rolls, First World War (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), WO 329). https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/ Sources used |
More information 2
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/464512 |
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Namenlijst (In Flanders Fields Museum) https://namenlijst.org/publicsearch/#/person/_id=6e04a6f3-43cd-4e0c-89a6-c064783178f4 |