Harold Cecil Russell

H.C. Russell in 1924
From P. Russell's personal papers.

Russell family in 1924
From P. Russell's personal papers.

H.C. Russell in 1945
From P. Russell's personal papers.

  ----- ----- ----------- -----------------------------------------------------------
  Issue  Page Date        Section & Entry
  ----- ----- ----------- -----------------------------------------------------------

  35396  7337 1941-Dec-26 Awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal (per p 7336):
                              No. M.63 Warrant Officer Class II (Company
                                Sergeant-Major) Harold Cecil Russell, The
                                Gold Coast Regiment.

  36050  2671 1943-Jun-26 Commissioned 2nd Lt.:
                            A.C.F. Section.
                              20th Apr. 1942:-
                                270511 Harold Cecil RUSSELL

  37355  5640 1945-Nov-16 Relinquished commission on appointment to Rhodesian Forces:
                            GENERAL LIST INFANTRY.
                            A.C.F. Section.
                              4th Aug. 1945:-
                                War Subs. Lt. H. C. RUSSELL (270511)
                              ...
                              6th Aug. 1945:-
                                War Subs. Capt. E. MORRIS (325496)

  37433   499 1946-Jan-15 Awarded the Military Cross (per p 489):
                              Major (acting) Harold Cecil RUSSELL, D.C.M.
                                (270511), General List, Infantry. (A.C.F-Section)
                                (attd. The Gold Coast Regiment).

  37730  4706 1946-Sep-17 Mentioned in Despatches (Burma) (per p 1):
                            In "General List" section:
                              Maj. (temp.) H.C. RUSSELL, M.C., D.C.M. (270511).

  38080  4527 1947-Sep-23 Promoted:
                            R.W.K. (Royal West Kent Regiment)
                              Short Serv.Commn.
                              2nd Lt. (War Subs. Capt.) Harold Cecil RUSSELL,
                              M.C., D.C.M. (270511) from Gen. List (Inf.) (A.C.F.
                              Section) Emerg. Commn., to be Capt., 5th May
                              1947 with seniority, 24th May 1945.

  40372    54 1954-Dec-31 Mentioned in Despatches (Kenya)
                            R.W.K.
                              Major (temp.) H.C. RUSSELL, M.C., D.C.M
                              (270511).

  43557   918 1965-Jan-22 Relinquished Commission
                          INFANTRY
                          HOME COUNTIES BRIGADE
                          Queens Own Buffs
                          REGULAR ARMY
                            Short Serv. Commn.
                            Maj. H. C. RUSSELL, M.C., D.C.M. (270511)
                            relinquishes his commn. on account of disability,
                            25th Jan. 1965, and is granted the hon. rank
                            of Maj.

  ----- ----- ----------- -----------------------------------------------------------

Local copies of actual pages:
19411226_i35396_p7336_DCMs.pdf
19411226_i35396_p7337_AwardedDCM.pdf
19430608_i36050_p2671_Comm_2Lt.pdf
19451116_i37355_p5640_RelComm.pdf
19460115_i37433_p498_MCs.pdf
19460115_i37433_p499_AwardedMC.pdf
19460917_i37730_p1_MIDs.pdf
19460917_i37730_p4706_MID.pdf
19470923_i38080_p4527_Prom_Capt.pdf
19541231_i40372_p54_MID.pdf
19650122_i43557_p918_RelComm.pdf

Web site:
http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/search

(Above are the minature medals (worn on Mess Nights, etc.), which explains their worn condition.

In 1942, while the rest of the Regiment was back in West Africa for jungle training,
(see this link ex E. Morris),
he was seconded to 8th Army to assist with Army - Air Force liason during Alamein, etc.,
hence the 8th Army Clasp on the Africa Star ribbon.