The Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment

Private A S Russell

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Private Arthur Sidney RUSSELL, 203353, (TF/2798), 2nd/4th  Battalion,  Queens Own Royal West Kent Regiment, killed in action, Egypt, 19th April 1917, age 21.

6th August 1895, born  Gravesend, Kent, son of Arthur William & Marian Russell, 31, Campbell Road, Gravesend, Kent.

1911 Census - 47 Wakefield Street, Gravesend, Kent - Arthur W Russell, head, age 43, married, general shop keeper, own account, born Clerkenwell, London; Marian Russell, wife, age 41, married 16 years, 2 children, both still alive, born Swanscombe, Kent; Arthur S Russell, son, age 15, single, Laboratory Assistant, chemical, worker, born Gravesend, Kent; Leonard Russell, son, age 10, school, born Gravesend, Kent; Albert V Nash, boarder, 29, single, grocers shop assistant, worker, born Faversham, Kent.

9th August 1915, posted Balkans Theatre of War.

Buried at Gaza War Cemetery, XXX. C. 16., Israel.

From De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour -

16th August 1895, born  Gravesend, Kent, son of Arthur William Russell, (shopkeeper), and Marian, (daughter of James Colven), of 31, Campbell Road, Gravesend, Kent. Born at Gravesend.

Educated Higher Grade School, Gravesend, Kent.

Enlisted 25th November 1914. Resided Gravesend, Kent. Formerly employed as Laboratory Assistant at the Gravesend County Day School.

Served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from 18th July 1915; took part in the landing at Sulva Bay in August 1915; was invalided to Malta suffering from an attack of dysentery; rejoined his Battalion in Egypt, where he was in the Signalling Section of D Company, and spent six weeks at the school for signalling instruction at Zeitoun, but was recalled to join his Battalion at the end of March to go into action on 26th March 1917.

One of the signallers wrote: "I am sure that your son will be greatly missed by the whole Battalion, especially the signallers, among whom he was so popular. He was a good chap and willing to help anyone"