Russell, H J
HENRY JOHN RUSSELL
Remembered with honour Chatham Naval Memorial: Panel 5.
He originally enlisted 13 July 1908 for a period of 5 + 7 years: a bricklayer 5’5″ tall, joining H.M.S. Actaeon as 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.
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.
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.
Service number
K/19360 (Ch)Rank
Stoker 1st ClassUnit
H.M.S. AboukirRegiment
Date of death
22/09/1914Age at death
30Place of death
Memorial(s)
Notes
His brother George died 27 June 1917 and also features on this Roll of Honour- 1st S.W. Herts Scout Troop [in St Mary's Parish Church Watford] (4)
- Abbot's Langley Herts War Memorial (17)
- Aldbury Herts War Memorial (1)
- Aldenham Herts War Memorial (located in Letchmore Heath Herts) (8)
- All Saints Church Croxley Green Herts (12)
- All Saints Church Harrow Weald Middx (2)
- All Saints Church Hertford (1)
- All Saints Church King's Langley Herts (1)
- All Saints Church Leavesden Herts (31)
- All Saints Church Witham Essex (3)