Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Four: Sergeant-Major J. Russell, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Ashantee 1873-74, 1 clasp, Coomassie (1764 Cr. Sjt. J. Russell, 2 Bn. 23 R.W. Fus 1873-4); Army L.S. & G.C., V.R., small letter reverse (1764 Qr. Mr. J. Russell, Rl. W. Fus.); Army Meritorious Service Medal, G.V.R. (C. Sjt. (A.S.M.) J. Russell, R. Welch Fus.); Coronation 1911, privately inscribed, ‘1764 Sgt. Major J. Russell, R.W. Fusrs.), the first with corrections to naming and with tailor’s copy clasp, this bent towards right hand side-carriage, contact wear, otherwise nearly very fine and better (4)

China 1900, 1 clasp, Relief of Pekin (2588 Dmr. W. J. Russell, 2nd Rl. Welsh Fus.), good very fine

Three: Sergeant C. E. Russell, Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 6 clasps, Relief of Kimberley, Paardeberg, Driefontein, Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen (5651 Dmr. C. Russell, R. Welsh Fus.); King’s South Africa 1901-02, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (5651 Pte. C. Russell, Rl. Welsh Fus.); British War Medal 1914-20 (25431 Sjt. C. E. Russell, R.W. Fus.), the Boer War pair with occasional edge bruise and a little polished, nearly very fine, the last rather better (8)

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, The Collection of Medals to Welsh Regiments formed by the Late Llewellyn Lord.

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John Russell was born at West Compton, Dorchester and enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Bristol in August 1868, aged 18 years. Gaining rapid advancement, he was appointed Colour-Sergeant in December 1873, shortly after his arrival on the Gold Coast. He was subsequently present in the Ashantee operations of 1873-74 and received the Medal, without clasp. Otherwise employed on the Home Establishment and in Gibraltar, he was awarded his L.S. & G.C. Medal in November 1896 and was serving on the Regimental Staff of the 2nd (Volunteer) Battalion at the time of taking his discharge as a Sergeant-Major in February of the following year. Russell subsequently joined the National Reserve, Southampton Association, and it was in this capacity that he was awarded the Coronation Medal in 1911. Finally, in AO 248 of 1920, he was awarded the Army M.S.M.; sold with copied research.

William John Russell is listed as ‘Deceased’ on the China Medal roll for the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as signed at Hong Kong on 6 June 1902; copied extract included.

Charles Edwin Russell served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the Boer War and was severely wounded in the action at Stinkhoutboom on 24 July 1900. Having then joined the 2nd Battalion, Mounted Infantry, he was taken P.O.W. at Onverwacht on 7 October 1901. Placed on the Army Reserve, Russell rejoined the Colours as a Sergeant in the Great War and served as an instructor in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, thereby qualifying for the British War Medal; sold with copied research.