Ancestor Details
Name of Ancestor: Albert Cooke-Russell
Ancestor's date of birth: 06/03/1873
Ancestor's date of death: 01/01/1957
Cause of Death: Stoke
Service Number: not known
Colony or State of enlistment: Not Applicable, Place of Enlistment: UK
Unit: Scots Guards
Rank attained in Boer War: CSGT, Date Effective: 21/01/1898
Highest Rank attained (if served after war): MAJ, Date Effective: 01/05/1916
Murray Page: Not applicable did not serve with an Australian unit in the Boer War
Contingent: Not applicable
Ship: Sailed from the UK
Memorial details: Detail not provided
Decorations: Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM), Mention in Despatches (MID twice), British Soudan Medal, Egyptian Medal with four clasps, Queen's South Africa Medal with eight clasps, British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Personal Characteristics: Very upstanding gentleman
Reasons to go and fight: Had been in the armed forces since 1892. 13 years 316 days HM Regt of Scots Guards, during which was attached as Instructor for five years to the Egyptian Army and for three years as QMS Instructor to the Queensland Defence Force. Prior to the Boer War, he had served on the expedition to Dongola 1896, action at Firket, was mentioned in despatches (MID) London Gazette 3/11/1896. Nile Expedition 1897. Operations and capture of Berber Province, Nile Expedition 1898, battles of Atbara and Khartoum. MID London Gazette 24/05/1898 promoted Sergeant for gallantry in the field was local Warrant Officer (Colour Sergeant) 21/01/1998.
Details of service in war: Advance on Kimberley including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magarsfontein, operations in the Orange Free State February to May 1900 including actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Vet River, 5th and 6th May, and Zand River, operations in Transvaal in May and June 1900, including sections near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill 11th and 12th June. Operations in Transvaal east of Pretoria July to November 1901 including actions at Belfast 22nd to 29th August, operations in Transvaal west of Pretoria July to November 1900, operations in Orange River Colony May to 29th November 1900 operations in Transvaal December 1900 to July 1901,operations in Cape Colony 1900.
Service and life after the Boer War: Married to Mary Ann. Appointed area Officer, Training Area 19B Hornsby NSW, on 01/11/1910 with rank of Captain. Placed on the unattached List (DO 171 of 1910) responsible for the supervision of Physical Training Instructional Staff in the 2nd Military District. Served in WW1-France. Joined the AIF, promoted to Major 1/05/1916. Appointed A.I.F second in Command of the 36th Battalion. Returned to Australia 1 November 1917. See photo 36th Battalion marching on Anzac Day 1936.
Descendant Details
Name of Descendant: Lynette Ann Russell Mawson, Colac VIC
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand DaughterName of Descendant: E Shepherd, Muswellbrook NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand DaughterName of Descendant: James Mason, Lapstone NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Grand Son
