Name
Henry John Russell
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
22/09/1914
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Stoker 1st Class
K/19360 (Ch)
Royal Navy
H.M.S. Aboukir
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CHATHAM NAVAL MEMORIAL
Panel 5.
United Kingdom
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Henry Frederick and Catherine (nee STREET) RUSSELL of Watford.
His parents married 1881 in the Lewisham, Kent, district. Catherine died 1928 in Watford aged 72, and was buried 17 March in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford; Henry died 1933 in Hillingdon, Middx, aged 78, and was buried 12 December, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Henry was born 14 January 1884 in either Walham Green, London, or Fulham, London, and baptised 6 April 1884 at St James’, Fulham. He attended Leighton Buzzard British School, Beds, from 2 November 1891 to 29 January 1892; then St Andrew’s Boys’ School, Watford, from 1 February 1892; finally Callowland Board School, Watford, from 2 May 1892 to 25 February 1898.
On the 1891 Census, aged 7 he lived in Leighton Bussard [sic], with his parents and two siblings. On the 1901 Census, a stone mason aged 17, he lived in Watford, with his parents and six siblings. On the 1911 Census, a Stoker 1st Class aged 27, he was aboard H.M.S. Hyacinth stationed at Bombay, India.
Wartime Service
He originally enlisted 13 July 1908 for a period of 5 + 7 years: a bricklayer 5’5″ tall, joining H.M.S. Actaeonas a Stoker 2nd Class.
He was aboard H.M.S. Hyacinth when promoted to Stoker 1st Class 1 July 1909, and was serving aboard H.M.S. Aboukir when war broke out.
He was drowned in the North Sea when Aboukir was sunk by the German submarine U-9; 527 men of her compliment died. His body was not recovered for burial; his father was notified of his death.
He was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals.
Additional Information
There is a caption to a photograph of Henry in the Watford Illustrated dated 13 November 1915; plus In Memoriams in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 22 September 1917 and 28 September 1918. Has a entry in the National Roll of the Great War. Is
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
