Thomas Russell
Name Thomas Russell He is believed to be the soldier
Number Private 2672
Battalion 59th Battalion
Place of Birth Herne Hill London
Next of Kin James L Russell of 254 Rosendale Rd Herne Hill London
Date and place of enlistment Melbourne on 29/5/1915
Physical details on enlistment Age 21 years 7 months, 5’ 7”, 9 stone, blue eyes and light brown hair
Religion Church of England
Occupation show card printer
Date and place of death
He was missing in action at the battle of Fromelles on 19/7/1916 and declared to have been killed on that day at a court of enquiry held on 28/8/1917.
Location of grave or memorial
He is remembered on the VC Corner Memorial Fromelles France.
Relationship to Woorayl Shire
He is believed to have lived in the area
Military History
- ˙29/5/15 He enlisted in Melbourne
- 26/8/15 He embarked Melbourne on HMAT Anchises
- 31/10/15 He went to Lemnos and joined his unit at Gallipoli
- 7/1/16 He had been evacuated from Gallipoli disembarked Alexandria
- 15/3/16 He transferred to the 59th at Tel el Kebir
- 18/6/16 He joined the British Expeditionary Force and embarked Alexandria
- 29/6/16 He disembarked Marseilles
- 19/7/16 He was missing in action at Fromelles
- 28/8/17 A Court of Enquiry was held into his death
- He was buried in no mans land and his body never recovered
- He left all his possessions to parents Mr. James Russell and Mrs. Eliza Russell
- His will was made in Egypt
- His medals, plaque and scroll went to parents
- Statement, Red Cross File No 2380704, 2617 Driver J. FOLEY, 6 December 1916: ‘Another friend of mine, L/Cpl T. Young saw him killed. He was going over the parapet (advancing to the first German line) and fell back. Cpl. Young saw him fall. This was near Fleurbaix. The Germans counterattacked and got as far as our trench where Russell was shot, but they did not get beyond the trench as they were driven back.’