CAPTAIN A.H. RUSSELL, 2ND AND 4TH BATTALIONS HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY AND 16TH (TRANSPORT WORKER’S) BATTALION SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. Three: 1914 Star and bar (officially impressed in the “official naming style no. 3” for the 1914-15 Star

CAPTAIN A.H. RUSSELL, 2ND AND 4TH BATTALIONS HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY AND 16TH (TRANSPORT WORKER’S) BATTALION SOUTH LANCASHIRE REGIMENT. Three: 1914 Star and bar (officially impressed in the “official naming style no. 3” for the 1914-15 Star, in 1.5mm high impressed block capitals, in two lines, 3mm apart: LIEUT. A.H. RUSSELL. HIGH. L.I.) British War and Victory Medals (officially impressed: CAPT. A.H. RUSSELL.). Contemporary copy date bar on 1914 Star, otherwise Almost Extremely Fine.

Captain Russell’s Medal Index card notes that he was issued with a duplicate 1914 Star on 1/6/1928, the duplicate Star being issued to him at 1 Lulworth Avenue, Waterloo, Liverpool. The style of naming on the 1914 Star group is a type commonly found on 1914-15 Stars issued to officers. It would therefore probably be Russel’s replacement 1914 Star.

Group accompanied by copied Medal Index card, WW1 medal rolls, London Gazette extracts and biographical research.

Archibald Russell, born 7th July 1887, was the son of P.B. Russell of 10 Regent Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy, 1899-1902 (Cl. 1b-2b), Cheltenham, 1902-04 and Heath End Military College, Farnham. Archibald Henry Russell was a pre-war officer, first commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion Highland Light Infantry, 11/12/1906 and promoted Lieutenant, 4/4/1914. He saw active service in France and Flanders during WW1 attached to the 2nd Battalion Highland Light Infantry and promoted Captain in 1915. Russel was invalided in 1916 and was subsequently appointed Captain and Recruiting Officer, Swindon and Exeter Districts, on 19/6/1916. He transferred to the 16th (Transport Workers) Battalion South Lancashire Regiment on 25/5/1918 and relinquished his commission and resigned from the army on 2/9/1919 on account of “ill health”.

The 16th (Transport Workers) Battalion South Lancashire Regiment was formed at Prescott in April 1917 as a works battalion for employment at the docks on the River Mersey.

Captain Russell married, prior to the outbreak of WW1, Evelyn Gilbert Price of London, and when war broke out was resident at 25 Cedars Road, Chiswick, London, and in the post-war years he resided at 19 Collingham Place, Londonw SW.