Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert Russell was born on 24 June 1882 at Fairlie, the older and only surviving son of Robert and Mary (née McColl) Russell. He had two older sisters and one younger sister. A younger brother, James, died in infancy. Robert Russell, senior, and Mary McColl who were both from Scotland, married in 1876 in New Zealand. Young Robert started at Fairlie School in March 1888, joining his older sisters, Isabella and Mary Ann, who had transferred there in 1885 from Dunedin. In 1890 younger sister Maggie joined them at Fairlie, Mrs Russell being the named parent. Tragedy struck this family on 13 July 1888, when Mr Robert Russell was missing. He was found dead in the snow on the Grampian Plains, about 22 miles from Fairlie Creek, on 20 July. “With reference to the unfortunate man Robert Russell, whose death was recorded in our issue of Saturday, our Fairlie Creek correspondent writes as follows: — A man, by name Robert Russell, was found dead at Wales Creek, about 8 miles beyond Burke’s Pass. He had been cooking at Greys Hills Station and had left on Friday morning (13th instant) to join his family who reside at Fairlie Crook. As the snow was very deep and it was bitterly cold at the time fears were entertained that he would not be found alive. On enquiries being made the result proved as stated above. Great sympathy is felt for his wife and large family who are quite destitute. The coroner has been notified, and as the body will be brought down to Fairlie Creek an inquest will be hold at that place.” [23 July 1888.] Mary Russell married Richard Harding in 1900.

Robert Russell, junior, enlisted initially on 20 October 1914 at Timaru and secondly on 20 October 1915 at Trentham. A labourer at Tinui, Masterton, single and Presbyterian, he named his mother as next-of-kin – Mrs M. Harding, Fairlie, South Canterbury. Rifleman R. Russell embarked with the New Zealand Rifle Brigade, 3rd Battalion, departing from Wellington on 5 February 1916.

Mrs H. T. Loomes (née Mary Ann Russell), of Timaru, received word that her brother, Rifleman Robert Russell, of Lord Liverpool’s Own, had been invalided home and was expected to arrive in early March. The hospital ship “Marama”, with over 500 men, was due at Auckland on 4 March and at Lyttelton on 7 March. Included in her complement was Rifleman Robert Russell, the son of Mrs Mary Harding, Fairlie. A social was to be held at Fairlie about a week later to welcome home Rifleman R. Russell and a fellow serviceman. “The residents as usual turned out in large numbers to welcome home two returned men who arrived in the hospital ship “Marama.” A social organised by the Reception Committee was held in the Public Hall [Fairlie], to which Rifleman R. Russell and Private Dewar were invited. The Hall was decorated with patriotic emblems, and the floor was “got into good trim” for the occasion. The Rev. H. O. Hanby, Chairman of the Reception Committee, presided, and proceedings opened with the National Anthem. Later in the evening he welcomed the returned men in a stirring speech, and he was. followed by Mr C J. Talbot who echoed the greetings and good wishes extended to the soldiers. Both of them made a suitable and short reply thanking those present for their whole-hearted, welcome and appreciation of their action in going out to fight for King and Empire. Cheers were given with good will both for the returned men and for their comrades at the front. During the evening songs were sung . . . . The time was pleasantly filled up with a few dances . . . . . The ladies attended to the supper and served the numerous company in an expeditious manner, assisted by members of the committee and willing helpers.” [Timaru Herald, 20 March 1917.] He was discharged on 5 April 1917, being no longer physically fit for War Service on account of illness contracted on Active Service. Rifleman Russell served in Egypt and Western Europe, and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

The “Marama” visited Timaru on 9 March 1917, after the Mayor, Mr E. R. Guinness had made a request in view of the “liberal way the people here had subscribed to fit out the hospital ships, and especially the Marama”. Robert Russell died on 4 September 1948 at Fairlie and was buried in the local cemetery. Mrs Mary Harding died in September 1922 at Fairlie and her husband Richard in November 1922 at the Timaru residence of Mrs Loomes. They were survived by Mary’s three daughters and son Robert.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Database [23 December 2022]; NZ BDM Indexes (Department of Internal Affairs) [23 December 2022]; School Admission records (South Canterbury Branch NZSG) [27 December 2022]; Fairlie Cemetery burial record (Mackenzie District Council) [27 December 2022]; South Canterbury Times, 21 & 23 July 1888, Timaru Herald, 21 & 23 July 1888, 16 February 1917, 6, 13 & 20 March 1917, 7 September 1922, Otago Daily Times, 3 March 1917, Evening Post, 5 March 1917, Lyttelton Times, 5 March 1917, Temuka Leader, 6 March 1917 (Papers Past) [22, 23 & 29 December 2022]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.