Memorials & Monuments
on the Isle of Wight
- Biography -
- Francis Morgan Russell -
- Daniel George Russell -

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, October 8, 1915 Page 5

In reference to the paragraph on page 1 referring to the forthcoming departure of Mr. John Gell from St. Lawrence, we hear that the farm has been taken by Mr. Russell, of Week Farm.
(the report on page 1 referred to Mr Gell leaving Home Farm, St Lawrence)

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, February 4, 1916 Page 4

Second-Lieutenant D.G. Russell, R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. W. Russell, Week Farm, left for the Western Front on Saturday last.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, July 14, 1916 Page 1

Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Russell, of Week Farm, Ventnor, received news on Tuesday last that their son, Pte. Francis M. Russell, of the 14th Hants, attached M.G. Company, had been wounded by bullet in his right shoulder. He has been serving in France for the last 4 months. We are glad to say his wound is not serious and that he is now in Hospital in England doing well.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 4, 1916 Page 4

The name of Private F.M. Russell, of Ventnor, appeared in the casualty lists published on Monday.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, September 29, 1916 Page 5

Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Russell, of Week Farm, Ventnor, received official news on Monday, that their son, Second Lieutenant Daniel G Russell, R.F.A., Guard's Division, who has been at the front for the last six months, has been wounded in the back by a sniper. Second Lieutenant Russell was in the recent attack with the Guards on the 15th and 16th. The latest report received on Thursday is that he is progressing favourably in the 2nd Red Cross Hospital at Rouen.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 15, 1916 Page 5

Second-Lieut. Daniel G. Russell, R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Russell, Week Farm, Ventnor, who was wounded on the Somme in September, has been awarded the Military Cross for gallantry in action. We congratulate him warmly on this distinction. His General, Brigadier-General W. Evans, D.S.O., Guards Division, writes: "I am glad to say you have been awarded the Military Cross for your effort in September. I congratulate you, and am glad you are getting over your wound." In a letter from his Captain dated September 22nd, is the following: "Your son has done splendidly in the recent fighting, and it was only yesterday I went in his name with a strong recommendation for a reward. On September 15th he accompanied the infantry in the attack, and was with them the whole day. I wish I had a few more subalterns like him."

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, May 18, 1917 Page 2

Second-Lieut. Daniel G. Russell, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Russell, Week Farm, who sailed for the Eastern Theatre of War on April 19th, has arrived safely at Alexandria.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 17, 1917 Page 3

Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Russell, of Week Farm, have received the sad news that their son, Pte. Francis M. Russell, was killed in action in Flanders on August 10th. His company officer has written: "It is with sincere regret that I have to inform you that your son was killed on the night of the 10th inst. He was accompanying an officer who was on duty, and a shell fell quite near them, killing your son instantly and severely wounded the officer. I would ask you to accept the very sincere sympathy of the officers of the company. He was one of our best and most reliable men, and a brave soldier.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 24, 1917 Page 2

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.
MR. AND MRS. F.W. RUSSELL and family, Week Farm, wish to thank all who have so kindly written letters of sympathy in their recent sad bereavement. They hope to reply to each one in due course.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 9, 1918 Page 2
IN MEMORIAM
RUSSELL. - In ever loving memory of Pte. Francis Morgan Russell, 2nd Hampshires, beloved son of Mr. and Mrs. F.W. Russell, of Week, Ventnor, who fell in action in Flanders on August 10th, 1917. - A life laid down.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, June 21, 1940 Page 3

Ventnor and the War.
Captain D.G. Russell, M.C., late of "Warbens," Whitwell Road, Ventnor, who was attached to H.M.'s Military Attaché at the British Embassy, Brussels, recently arrived in Ventnor. He has been in Brussels for the last 13 years, and, when Belgium was attacked, continued duty at the Embassy until the Embassy Staff left Brussels on the 15th May. Although on official duty, he succeeded with great difficulty in evacuating his wife, three children and relatives, who had left Brussels on the 12th May, to England, after passing through Alost, Ghent, Ostend, Westende, La Panne and Dunkirk.
* *
The journey was rendered extremely difficult by German bombing and machine gunning from the air in each town passed through, and on the roads, especially at the final point of departure at Dunkirk, where the first enemy raid resulted in the dropping of 500 bombs and where some 400 soldiers and civilians were killed. Capt. Russell reached England on the 21st May with about 150 British and other evacuees from Dunkirk, a few days before the evacuation of the B.E.F. commenced from that port. The British Navy and Mercantile Marine did splendid work in assisting and comforting the women and children under those very trying circumstances, a work of which Capt. Russell cannot speak too highly.
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It will be recalled that His Majesty's Ambassador to Brussels, Sir Lancelot Oliphant, and his First Secretary, are reported as prisoners in Berlin, and Colonel Blake, the Military Attaché, is still posted as missing. Capt. Russell, with his wife and family, have now taken up residence at Oshawa, Alpine Road. Like all others who left Belgium under similar circumstances they were compelled to leave all their personal possessions behind them, in the hope that after the war they may find something.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, July 19, 1940 Page 3

Ventnor and the War.
Capt. Dan Russell
Captain Dan Russell is leaving Ventnor to rejoin his old Artillery unit. He is anxious about the fate of his senior Embassy colleague, Colonel Blake, who, when he reached Dunkirk, was ordered to Havre by the Ambassador, Sir Lawrence [sic] Oliphant, since reported to be a prisoner in Germany. The Germans collared Sir Lawrence's Rolls Royce car and left him on the roadside with a suit case.
(not all the report has been transcribed)

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, November 28, 1941 Page 3

Captain Dan Russell, R.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. Russell, Week Farm, Whitwell, has received the hearty congratulations of local friends on his promotion to Major, with effect from Sept. 1. He rejoined the Army after an exciting escape with his wife and family from Brussels (after the capitulation of Belgium), where he was attached to the British Embassy. He is now in charge of a keypoint in this country, and his wife and family are in residence in Park Avenue.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 22, 1943 Page 1

Major D.G. Russell, of South Bank, Park Avenue, who is now on staff duty in the North, writes stating that he has news of Ernest Gledhill, son of Mr. and Mrs. F. Gledhill, of the Royal National Hospital, and who, it will be remembered, was a fine playing member of the Cricket and Football Clubs. The news is contained in a letter to Major Russell from the B.Q.M.S. of his old regiment in East Africa, and the following message is included : - "You will be interested to learn that one of my colleagues in B.Q.M.S. duties is none other than Ernest Gledhill, who, I understand, was known to you at St. Lawrence for many years. He sends kindest regards and joins me in expressing the hope that you are in good health."
The letter came by air mail, and has been acknowledged.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, February 12, 1943 Page 2

Some Topical Reflections
By B.W.R.
In the recent Cambridge School Certificate examination, Gerald F.M. Russell, son of Major and Mrs. D.G. Russell, South Bank, who attends the Grammar School at Newport, obtained credits in the English language and literature, mathematics, physics with chemistry and history, a distinction in French, and passed in geography and arts, thus obtaining exemption from matriculation.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 24, 1943 Page 4

Some Topical reflections
By B.W.R.
Many greetings are to hand from Ventnorians abroad and at home. Major D.G. Russell, now serving in Scotland ... are among the better known former residents who pass on greetings to their friends ...
(not all the report has been transcribed)

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, January 7, 1944 Page 1

A letter comes from Major D.G. Russell, M.C., now serving in Scotland, whose family, until a few months ago, lived in Park Avenue. His son, Peter, aged 19, who is well known here, was in the Royal Fusiliers, but volunteered and was accepted for the Paratroops. He has now obtained his "wings." Major Russell refers to several of his local friends and sends them good wishes.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, July 7, 1944 Page 1

Some Topical Reflections By B.W.R.
Peter Russell, son of Captain D.G. Russell, M.C., R.A., formerly of South Bank, Park Avenue, has a stirring story to relate of his experiences on invasion day. He formed one of a party of paratroops who landed twelve miles behind the German lines. Their glider made a crash-landing, and he sustained a dislocated shoulder and arm injuries. He is now in hospital in England. After the accident he was unconscious for, he thinks, about half an hour. After that he had to use German weapons to get though their lines.
His party had to leave the pilot of the glider behind suffering from two broken legs and an arm. They bandaged him with improvised splints, left him a 24-hours' ration and promised to rescue him if possible. When they reached their objective in a certain village they were joined by other paratroops, and after 48 hours' fighting secured 165 German prisoners.
Then they got hold of a Jeep, and went to rescue the pilot of the glider, who is now in hospital in England. Until they returned to their objective the party lived on tablet rations and cheese provided by the French. The writer speaks highly of the succour rendered to them by the French people, who helped them all the time, even tearing up their blankets and sheets to act as bandages. An old French farmer proudly produced a bottle of Cognac, which he had hidden from the Germans.
Capt. Russell was for some time before the war attached to the British Consulate at Brussels with his family and his wife and her sisters - the last-named are still living in Park Avenue - they left two days after the war began, and had an exciting journey to England.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, June 15, 1945 Page 3

Some Topical Reflections By B.W.R.
A notable scholastic success has been achieved by a young man of local connection. In the University of Edinburgh Examination for Bursaries last May, for students entering the first session, Mr. Gerald F.M. Russell, son of Capt. D.G. Russell, M.C., R.A., and a student of George Watson's Boys' College, Edinburgh, has secured first place in the Order of Merit list for general bursaries, and also first place in the John Watson Mathematical Bursary List. These bursaries were open to all students in Scotland, there being five hundred competitors. He is also "dux" of his school.
* *
Gerald Russell is 17 years of age, and before joining George Watson's College in 1943, was at the College St. Jean Berchman, Brussels, up to May 1940, and at the Grammar School, Newport, I.W., from which school he obtained his English School Certificate with special distinction. He obtained his Scottish Higher School Certificate at George Watson's in 1944, with the same degree of success.
His father has been liaison officer in Brussels for dealing with repatriated German and other prisoners, and is leaving hospital there after treatment for over-strain. His other son Peter, a paratrooper, was recently in the same hospital after receiving a severe bullet wound in the foot in the operations on the Rhine.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, August 17, 1945 Page 1

Major D.G. Russell, M.C., who will shortly be demobilised, is home on leave.
With his knowledge of continental languages he has apparently been an ideal liaison officer in the interests of repatriated men in Brussels and other places. He found his apartments at the British Embassy in Brussels in fair shape. Nothing had been taken away, although it had been occupied by the enemy. His son Peter, a paratrooper, who was wounded in the battle of the Rhine, has also been here on leave.

ISLE OF WIGHT MERCURY

Friday, December 28, 1945 Page 1

"The Watsonian," the magazine of Watson School, under the heading of "School Notables," has the following paragraph in its winter number: - "Gerald F.M. Russell, Dux of the School, 1945, is the son of Major D.G. Russell, M.C., R.A., and Mrs. Russell, 10, West Caiystane Road, Edinburgh. He received his early education in Brussels and later in the Isle of Wight before entering Watson's in 1943. During his last session he was a member of the A.T.C. Shooting and Swimming Teams and was awarded his School Colours for Swimming. A brilliant linguist and mathematician, he took first place in the Edinburgh Open Bursary Competition, 1945, and is now studying medicine."
* *
Major Russell, who has been spending Christmas with his wife and family at Ventnor, has been awarded a post under the Control Commission in Germany and will be shortly leaving England.