RUSSELL James Reginald

James Russell attended Bromsgrove School from 1908 to 1913. As well as being a School Monitor he played in the XV and XI teams and was a Sergeant in Officer Training Corps. John Russell would bowl through a whole innings on a hot day; go in and make top score and be found a few minutes later hard at work in his study. It was no surprise when the news came that he, a young subaltern of a couple of months standing, fresh from Sandhurst, had been specially complimented by General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien and awarded the DSO (The incident is recorded in “The First Seven Divisions” by Lord Ernest Hamilton, pp204-8). He came home on a few days leave, but the strain had been too great; his lungs were affected and eventually he gave up the army. His health seemed to have been completely re-established but he decided to live in California and was on his way there with his wife when he was taken ill at Los Angeles and died of pneumonia.

Russell and another officer were involved in a much-acclaimed action with the British Expeditionary Force at the start of the War. The ‘1st Battalion War Diary’ recorded that ‘At Neuve Chapelle in October 1914, two junior officers brought the Battalion out of action after ten days continuous fighting in the trenches when all other officers had become casualties. In the ‘L.G.’ 1st December 1914 ‘His Majesty The King has been graciously pleased to approve of the appointment of the undermentioned Officers to be Companions of the Distinguished Service Order. In recognition of their services with the Expeditionary Force for exceptional gallantry and grit in the firing line in trenches, near Neuve Chapelle, between 23rd and 29th October’. Russell was promoted from Second Lieutenant to be lieutenant in 1915 ‘antedated to the 19th September 1914’. His ill-health clearly continued. He was placed ‘on the h.p. List on account of ill health 10th May 1916’, ‘restored supernumerary to establishment 26th May 1917’ and then ‘placed on the h.p. List on account of ill health contracted on active service 26th July 1917’.

Source: Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by Philip Bowen and Bromsgrove School at War 1914-19 by David Cross.