Queen's South Africa Medal : Sergeant A Russell, Scots Guards

Description

Queen's South Africa Medal with clasps for 'BELMONT', 'MODDER RIVER', 'PAARDEBERG', 'DRIEFONTEIN', 'JOHANNESBURG', 'DIAMOND HILL', 'BELFAST', 'SOUTH AFRICA 1901'. Medal impressed around edge with recipient's details.

History / Summary

Presented to Albert Cooke-Russell, who was born in 1873 in Rotherham, Yorkshire, the son of Thomas and Ann Russell. He worked as a packer, while serving in the militia in the 3rd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. In 1892 he enlisted as a private in the Scots Guards. In September 1895 he was transferred to the Egyptian Army, serving in the 13th Sudanese Battalion. He was mentioned in despatches during the Battle of Ferkeh, part of the 1896 Dongola Expedition into Sudan. In January 1898 he was promoted to Sergeant for gallantry in the field while serving in the Sudan Expedition. He received a second Mention in Despatches during the early stages of that campaign. On 2 September 1898 the British-Egyptian Army decisively defeated the forces of the ‘Mahdi’ in Sudan during the battle of Omderman. For his role in the battle Albert was recommended by General Kitchener for the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

In October 1899 he was transferred back to the 1st Battalion of the Scots Guards. Two weeks later the battalion was sent to South Africa to fight the two Boer Republics that attacked the British Cape and Natal colonies in October. The Battalion was in action almost as soon as it arrived, taking part in many of the wars earliest battles at Belmont, Modder River and Magersfontein. Albert was present with the battalion during the decisive battle of Paardeberg and continued to serve with them until he was transferred from Pretoria to the Queensland Defence Force in April 1901.

While in Queensland Albert was made a staff instructor with the rank of Quartermaster Sergeant. While there he met Mary Ann Thorne, who he married in Townsville in April 1902. The couple had the first of four children in April 1903. In July 1904 Albert was transferred back to the Scots Guards and returned to England. He stayed with the unit until January 1906 when he was discharged. He returned to Australia where he was made a captain and training instructor in Hornsby, New South Wales.

In April 1916 he enlisted in the 36th Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force as a major. Albert served for six months with the 3rd Australian Divisional Training Battalion at Lark Hill until he was transferred back to the 36th Battalion in May 1917. Eventually he would serve as the battalion’s Intelligence Officer until he was invalided back to Australia in November 1917 suffering from Rheumatism. After the war he worked as physical education teacher and later an orderly at the Darlinghurst Criminal Court. He died in 1957.