RUSSELL, William Alfred
| Service Number: | 16391 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Sapper |
| Last Unit: | 5th Divisional Signal Company |
| Born: | Nottingham, England, date not yet discovered |
| Home Town: | Mile End, City of West Torrens, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tramway employee |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (2), New Thebarton Lodge No 23 U.A.O.D. Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 16 Dec 1916: | Involvement Sapper, 16391, 5th Divisional Signal Company, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '6' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Berrima embarkation_ship_number: A35 public_note: '' | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Dec 1916: | Embarked Sapper, 16391, 5th Divisional Signal Company, HMAT Berrima, Adelaide | |
| 11 Nov 1918: | Involvement Sapper, 16391 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
Russell William Alfred was born in Nottingham, England. His brother Ernest Charles was listed as his next of kin, when he enlisted on 1 May 1916 aged 25 years. Before the war Russell worked as a tramway employee and his religion was recorded as Church of England.
After enlisting, Russell was assigned to the 4th Divisional Signal Company, part of the Australian Engineers as a Sa[[er. He embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on 16 December 1916 aboard HMAT Berrima. He first travelled to England for further training before being sent to France in September 1917. Russel as a member of the Signal Company his duties included laying and repairing telephone lines, maintaining communications and supporting operations under dangerous conditions.
Russell was hospitalised in France in early 1918 with haemorrhoids but rejoined his unit after treatment. He was granted leave in the United Kingdom in October 1918 and in Boulogne France, in March 1919. On 6 April 1919 he marched out for return to Australia and on 2 June 1919, he sailed home aboard the SS Beltana.