"Eric" Alfred Robert Eric RUSSELL
Born 18 May 1892 in Bunbury, Western Australia [16]
Son of Alfred RUSSELL and Frances Maria FOWLER [15]
Farmer of Perenjori Park Farm in Perenjori 1912-1915 [6] [19]
His farm in Perenjori consisted of Victoria Locations 4781 and 4782 [61]
From 1912 to 1914 his postal address was Carnamah while his physical address was "Perenjori via Carnamah" [6] [19]
His first cousin "Cecil" George Charles Cecil Compton FOWLER farmed the adjacent Victoria Locations 4783 and 4784 [61]
In 1913 he was cropping between 100 and 150 acres of his farm in Perenjori [31: 4-Jul-1913]
Member of the Perenjori branch of the Farmers & Settlers' Association of WA - was Secretary 1914-1916 [81: 15-Feb-1914, 16-Jan-1916]
He represented Perenjori at the state conference of the Farmers and Settlers' Association in Perth in August 1915 [120: 20-Aug-1915]
Enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force at Blackboy Hill on 24 January 1916 [30: item 8071558]
Upon enlistment he gave his address as "Preston Valley, old Donnybrook, Western Australia" [18]
Upon enlistment he was 6 feet 1 inches tall, weighed 185 pounds and had brown eyes, black hair and a dark complexion [30]
Gave his next of kin as his mother Mrs Frances M. RUSSELL of Woodville Farm in Preston Valley [30]
After training at Campbellfield he was appointed to D Company of the 3rd Australian Pioneer Battalion on 19 May 1916 [30]
Embarked from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia for active service abroad on the H.M.A.T. A62 Wandilla on 6 June 1916 [30]
Disembarked in Plymouth, England on 26 July 1916 and after further training proceeded to France on 24 November 1916 [30]
Lieutenant 1071 in the Australian Imperial Force's 3rd Pioneer Battalion in France during the First World War [30]
Initially Sergeant but was appointed 2nd Lieutenant on 17 January 1917, and promoted to Lieutenant on 4 July 1917 [30]
Awarded the Military Cross for "conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty" in France on 6 September 1918 [30]
Embarked England on the H.T. Ypiringa, disembarked in Melbourne on 2 July 1919 and then by rail to Western Australia [30]
His appointment was terminated on 29 August 1919; received the British War Medal, Victory Medal and Military Cross [30]
His cousin Cecil, who'd been at Perenjori, served with the 11th Battalion and was Killed in Action on 21 May 1915 [30: item 4019435]
Their cousin Alvin D. R. FOWLER, of the 16th Battalion, was Killed in Action in Belgium on 26 September 1917 [30: item 4023808]
Married Lucy Hilda Beatrice ROBINSON in Perth in 1922 [66]
Manager of Upper Clifton Downs Station near Yalgoo in 1925 [50]
In 1936 he was working as a Produce Merchant and was living at 123 Stirling Highway in the Perth suburb of Nedlands [50]
Resided in the Perth suburb of Subiaco prior to enlisting in the Australian Army on 28 April 1941 [16]
Captain W32848 in the Australian Army's Emp Service L Headquarters during the Second World War [16]
Discharged from the Australian Army on 1 March 1944 [16]
Later resided in the Perth suburb of Nedlands [2]
Died 3 December 1971; ashes interred Karrakatta Cemetery, Perth WA (Crematorium Rose Gardens, 19, 160) [2]
First cousin of "Joey" H. Harold S. FOWLER who was the farmer of Fairview Farm in Winchester, South Carnamah 1924-1957 [P23]
From The Commonwealth Gazette No. 67, 3 June 1919:
Military Cross
"For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 6th September 1918, near Tincourt, in charge of a platoon. When held up by a nest of machine gun posts, he placed his Lewis gun so as to harass the enemy, and got round the flank of the position and led his men in a rush on the post. The impetus of the attacked caused the enemy to beat a hasty retreat, and the position was captured. Throughout the whole day his able leading kept his men on the move against strong opposition and heavy fire."
| Reference: Carnamah Historical Society & Museum and North Midlands Project, 'Alfred Robert Eric Russell' in Biographical Dictionary of Coorow, Carnamah and Three Springs, retrieved 27 April 2024 from www.carnamah.com.au/bio/alfred-robert-eric-russell [reference list] |
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