Two Unique & Exceptional "Two Brother Officers" 1914-1915 trios,
To: Lieut E.Russell. Notts & Derby Rgt.
KILLED in ACTION 1st JULY 1916

& Paymaster, Lt Cdr G.H. Russell R.N.
1911 Coronation Medal & M.I.D.
with Messina Earthquake medal.







Lieut Edward Russell. 11th Notts & Derby Regiment.
KILLED IN ACTION. 1st JULY 1916.
1st DAY, BATTLE OF THE SOMME

[BIOGRAPHIES]
Edward & George Russell were the sons of the late Mr John Russell M.A. (president of Bromley House Library) & Mrs Edith Russell. Prior to the Great War the two Russell brothers resided with their mother in the family home at 328 Mansfield Road, Carrington, Nottingham.

[EDWARD RUSSELL]
Younger brother Edward was born in 1896 and was working with a London firm to become a barrister having started to follow a career in the civil law. At the outbreak of the war he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. as 1126 Pte E. Russell and was gazetted 2/Lt to the 11th Bn Sherwood Foresters in November 1914 with a promotion to Lieut in August 1915 and an arrival in France in the September.

[11th NOTTS & DERBY REGt 1st DAY, BATTLE OF THE SOMME]
Prior to their attack on Leipzig Salient on 1st July, the 11th Sherwoods moved from Bouzincourt on the 30th June 1916 and up to the assembly trenches with such names as; "Glasgow Road", "Lower Howich Street", "Quarry Post" and "Bamberbridge Street". Along with the 9th Yorks & Lancs, the 11th Bn were in support of other attacking battalions, the 8th Yorks & Lancs and the 8th Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.
While in the assembly positions in Authuile Wood which formed part of "Blighty Valley", they came under a very heavy German bombardment and began to suffer the first of their many casualties.

At 07:30 on Saturday 1st July the time arrived for the 11th Battalion "Notts & Derbys" to go over the top.

As soon as the first wave of men left the trenches they were caught in a tremendous withering fire from infilading enemy machine guns positioned to their left on Theipval ridge in the north & from those on their right at Ovillers to the south. It was during this part of the day that Edward Russell lost his life.

As with so many men, Edward was initially listed as 'missing in action' and in a newspaper report of Friday 21st July 1916 in the Derby Daily Telegraph he was reported as being one of the wounded, but he was later confirmed as killed in action on 1st July.

He was just 20 years old.

Edward's body was lost without trace, and having no known grave is commemorated with eternal honour on The Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France.

[GEORGE RUSSELL R.N.]
Edward's older brother, George Russell was born on 19th March 1889 and joined the Royal Navy at age 17 on 15th July 1906.
His first ship of service afloat was non other than H.M.S. Exmouth which along with seven other R.N. vessels was in attendance and assistance at MESSINA in Southern Italy after the famous earthquake which struck the town on 28th December 1908.
He thus received the Messina earthquake medal in February 1912. He had also previously attended the 1911 coronation of George V and received the appropriate medal. George's full & greatly detailed service sheet and all other medal confirmation rolls has survived, copies of which are supplied with the group.

He was also (M.I.D.) mentioned in despatches during WW1. He eventfully rose from the humble rank of assistant clerk to the rank of Paymaster Lt Commander before his final discharge on 19th March 1920 after exactly 31 years of service. Also included is a letter from Gieves Ltd, the famous military tailors, dated 9th November 1928 detailing the remounting of his medals, clearly for the 10th anniversary armistice service.

This is a highly desirable 'two officer brothers' assembly with a unique combination of medals. All medals are practically 'mint state' and with original ribbons.

£2995