William Gregor Russell
Rank: Private
Service No: S/15550
Place of Birth: Rutherglen
Date of Death: 07/04/1915
Theatre of Death: F&F
Age: 26
Regiment/Service: Cameron Highlanders (2nd Bn.)
Cemetery: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial
Additional information: Son of William Russell, 24 Greenbank Street, Rutherglen.
Rutherglen Lore information: Son of Wm. Russell, 24 Greenbank Street, Rutherglen.
Soldier’s Effects information: Father William Russell and sisters Jessie Russell and Maggie Purdie.
1901 census information:
Address: 57 Main Street, Rutherglen.
Father: William (54) pastry baker, born about 1847 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Margaret (13) born about 1888 in Rutherglen.
Self: William Gregor (10) born about 1891 in Rutherglen.
Sister: Jessie (7) born about 1894 in Rutherglen.
1911 census information:
The family are living in Rutherglen. The family comprises William 64, William G 20 and Jessie J 18.
Newspaper transcript – Cameron Killed. Intimation was received by Mr William Russell, 24 Greenbank Street, Rutherglen, on Saturday night of the death of his son, Private William Gregor Russell (22), of the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders. He was shot though the head in the trenches at Belgium, where he was buried along with ten others in the same regiment.
Private Russell was a native of Rutherglen, and joined the Army in November. He had been in the trenches since the beginning of March. Before enlisting he was a blacksmith in the Scotia Rivet, Nut and Bolt Works, at Rutherglen.
He was an amateur artist in water colours, and at a recent exhibition won a prize for a water colour of the Town Hall Building, Rutherglen.
He was a popular lad in the circle of his companions.
Newspaper transcript – Mr Wm. Russell, 24 Greenbank Street, Rutherglen, has received intelligence of the death of his son, Wm. Gregor Russell (22), a private in the Cameron Highlanders. He was shot through the head in the trenches in Belgium. He entered the Army in November, and since the beginning of March was in the trenches. prior to enlisting, he was a blacksmith with the Scotia Bolt Works, Rutherglen.
He was an amateur artist in water colour, and as such won considerable distinction.
Also commemorated on the Memorial at St Johns Operative Lodge No 347, Rutherglen.