Name
David Leslie Russell
24 Nov 1890
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
23/05/1915
24
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Captain
London Regiment (Post Office Rifles)
8th (City of London) Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
BETHUNE TOWN CEMETERY
II. H. 16.
France
Headstone Inscription
SURSUM CORDA
UK & Other Memorials
Harmer Green & Digswell Memorial, Harmer Green, St John's Church Memorial Plaque, Digswell, Haileybury College Memorial, Hertford Heath, Not on the Little Amwell memorials, Hertford College Memorial, Oxford
Pre War
David Leslie Russell was born on 24 Nov 1890 in Little Amwell, Hertfordshire, the son of William Ernest and Margaret Susan Russell, and baptised at Great Amwell, Herts on 26 January 1891.
On the 1891 Census, the family were living at Hertford Heath, Amwell End, Herts where his father was Bursar at Haileybury College. They appear to have moved on to the Haileybury estate by 1901 where his father remained as Bursar but David was a student at Wick School, Brighton in 1901.
He was educated at Haileybury College 1904-09 and Hertford College, Oxford. On the 1911 Census he was living with his widowed mother and sister at Hailey, Waterden Road, Guildford, Surrey and gave his occupation as Student. Said to be living at Bryn, Digswell, Herts at the time of his death.
His mother later lived at Land End, Sawbridgeworth, Herts., but we have yet to find any direct connection for David.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in the 8th Battalion London Regiment (Post Office Rifles) where he became a Captain and served in France from 18 March 1915.
He was killed in action at Festubert, France. David Russell is buried at Bethune Town Cemetery. He was aged 24.
Additional Information
His mother, Mrs M S Russell of Lane End, Sawbridgeworth, Herts, ordered his headstone inscription: "SURSUM CORDA".
Brother of Lieutenant Lawrence Edward Russell who was killed in action in 1914 and is also commemorated on the Digswell & Haileybury memorials. His pay owing was split between his mother, sister Gwynedd and brother Anthony. Probate was granted in London on 24 September 1932 to Anthony Smithson Russell, accountant with effects of £4040 15s 7d. N.B. his mother died 9 August 1932 and probate of her estate and that of his brother Lawrence, is listed on the same page of the index.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.ourwelwyngardencity.org.uk, Douglas Coe
