Forename: James
Surname: Russell
Rank: Private
Regiment: Australian Infantry
Institution: St Paul’s Practising School
James Russell was born on 19 June 1892 and lived at 4 Nailsworth Terrace whilst a pupil at the Practising School. After school he emigrated to Australia, working as a labourer in Sydney then enlisting as a Private in the 3rd Battalion Australian Infantry in April 1917.
He embarked on the HM Australian Transport ship “Euripides”, initially bound for Devonport. James was confined to barracks for insolence to a non-commissioned officer on-board, and after docking was arrested in Bristol for being absent without leave. By February 1918 he had travelled to Cheltenham where he married Florence Bullingham at St Paul’s Church. He then embarked for France where he was killed in action on 21 June 1918. James has no known grave and is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.