Thomas’ occupation and marital status on enlistment was detailed as a lorry driver, who was married.
- Date of Birth – 1 October 1906.1Queensland Birth Death and Marriages, https://www.qld.gov.au/law/births-deaths-marriages-and-divorces/family-history-research Birth 1906/C/2190, Byrne Cecil J, Parents Thomas Russell and Ruby Slattery. Accessed 24 March 2024.
- Family – Son of Thomas James Russell and Ruby Slattery. Husband of Daisy Russell (nee Collins), whose address was given as North Araluen. From 1943 Daisy’s address is given as in Herberton, Queensland.2Commonwealth War Graves, https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2156644/thomas-james-russell/Accessed 22 March 2024.
- Enlisted at Paddington on the 24 May 1940.
- Regimental Number – NX170083National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B883, Russell, Thomas James, Item ID– 4834862, Accessed 22 March 2024.
- Aged at embarkation – 33 years and two months.
- Military service – 2/4 Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment workshop. Australian Corps of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. Rank – Craftsman. Thomas served at Middle East and New Guinea, and was awarded the 1939/1945 Star, Africa Star, Pacific Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australia Service Medal.4Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/645792. Accessed 22 March 2024.
- Wounded in action and died of wounds, Finschhafen, New Guinea, 27 September 1943, aged 36 years.5Australian War Memorial, https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1700813 Accessed 22 March 2024.
- Buried – Lae War Cemetery and Memorial, Lae, Lae District, Morobe, Papua New Guinea.6Find a Grave.com. Panel 91, on a monument at the Australian War Memorial, Canberra. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/23715855/thomas-james-russell Accessed 22 March 2024.
Thomas Russell was the eldest child of Thomas James Russell (1881-1968), a miner, and Ruby Slattery (1888-1949). Thomas and Ruby had eleven children following their marriage in Queensland in 1905 – Thomas; William (Bill); John (Jack); Samuel (Sam); Hazel (1915-1915); Sarah (Mrs. Carr); Ruby (Mrs. Dundas); Walter (Wally); Florence (Florrie, Mrs. Kilpatrick); Kevin and Robert (Bob).7Cairns Post (Qld : 1909-1954), Friday 2 December 1949, p 7. Three of Thomas’ brothers John (Jack), Walter (Wally) and Kevin, also served in WWII.
- John Stuart Russell – Service Number – Q220264; Date of birth – 27 April 1912; Place of birth – Croyden, Queensland. John enlisted on 2 May 1942 and was discharged 21 October 1945.8National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B884, Russell, John Stuart, Item ID–4636241, Accessed 22 April 2024. 9Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/751777 Accessed 22 April 2024. Enlisted – 2 May 1942. 21 October 1945: Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WWII), Lance Corporal, Q220264.
- Walter George Russell – Service Number – Q39689; Date of birth – 28 March 1920; Place of birth – Atherton, Queensland. Walter enlisted on 2 September 1940 and was discharged 1 April 1942.10National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B884, Russell, Walter George, Item ID–4916578, Accessed 22 April 2024. 11Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/751841 Accessed 22 April 2024. Enlisted – 2 September 1940. 1 April 1942 – Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WWII), Private, Q39689.
- Kevin Herbert Russell – Service Number – QX57063; Date of birth – 26 January 1925; Place of birth – Atherton, Queensland. Kevin enlisted on 14 July 1943 and was discharged on 28 October 1946.12National Archives of Australia. https://www.naa.gov.au/. NAA: B883, Russell, Kevin Herbert, Item ID–4466999, Accessed 22 April 2024. 13Virtual War Memorial Australia, https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/751787 Accessed 22 April 2024. Service Numbers – Q271756, QX57063 Enlisted – 14 July 1943. 28 October 1946 – Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WWII), Private. QX57063
The electoral roll in 1936, shows Thomas Russell, a miner, and Daisy, residing in North Araluen. Daisy was the daughter of Joseph Collins (1882-1954) and Gertrude Dixon (1890-1972). Thomas James Russell and Daisy Collins had five children – Shirley; Thomas (1932-2014); Beverley (1934-2007); Lillian (1937-2002) and Dorothy. 14Find a Grave.com. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/149781494/lillian-joyce-robinson Accessed 22 April 2024. Lillian (1937-2002) – Sister to Shirley, Thomas, (1932-2014), Beverley (1934 – 2007) and Dorothy
In April 1939, the Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal15Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 21 April 1939, p 2. reported on an Araluen man’s misfortune. ‘Everything the family possessed in the world went up in smoke when a fire broke out in the home of Mr. Tom Russell at North Araluen last Wednesday. Mr. Russell was working about a quarter of a mile away in a claim on the creek. … In a short space of time the whole building was demolished. We understand Mrs. Russell was away at the time having gone to meet her young children coming from school. … The house was the property of Mr. Cartwright.’ In January 1940, the Braidwood Review and District Advocate16Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 16 January 1940, p 2. reported a benefit held for the ‘unfortunate Russell family, who were recently burnt out for the second time in twelve months’.
Douglas Blanche, The Rectory, Braidwood, wrote in the Braidwood Dispatch17Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 8 December 1939, p 2. in December 1939 of ‘A CASE OF GENUINE DISTRESS -(To the Editor of the ‘Dispatch’) Sir,— May I appeal through your widely-read columns for help for an unfortunate family? Mr. and Mrs. Tom Russell have for the second time in a year had the houses they occupied burnt down. Coming originally from Queensland, they hoped for bright prospects in the Valley. There are five children, aged from two to nine years, one being a boy of seven. In spite of hard work, the erecting of their first home of bagging and timber, energetic attempts at a variety of jobs, and a willing spirit, poverty and misfortune have followed them. They lost almost everything in the first fire, and in the second even Mr. Russell’s dental plate disappeared. The fierce gale on Monday blew a spark into portion of the roof and fanned it so rapidly that no one could get inside the house. Water in any quantity was unavailable. Mrs. Leonard has sheltered them for the present … Goods, cash or messages may be left at the Rectory on and after Saturday, 9th December, till Christmas. When visiting Araluen for service on Sunday morning, 10th Inst [December 1939], I should be glad to deliver anything then available. Thanking you, Yours sincerely, DOUGLAS BLANCHE.’
In August 1941, the Braidwood Review18Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 12 August 1941, p 3. published an account of letters received from Braidwood soldiers from Tobruk. ‘Fred Stoyles and Charlie McGrath, … write … “It is five months to-day since we left Australia … We two were fortunate enough to join A Coy., reinforcing three other Braidwood ‘boys’, Cpl. G. Stoyles, Bill Styles and Tom Russell (Araluen), who are all fit and well and pleased to see us and hear a bit of home news … We have experienced some very heavy barrages, with shells landing very close to our positions. Tom Russell, who drives the Coy. water truck, had a very narrow escape, a shell landing on the back of his truck. He dived into a dugout close by, when another shell blew the top off the dugout, covering him with dust and shrapnel, but he did not receive a scratch”.’
The Braidwood Dispatch19Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 16 January 1942, p 2. in January 1942 recounts ‘A number of Braidwood listeners-in were thrilled one night last week when, they heard, the familiar voice of two local soldiers on the radio. Fred Stoyles and Tom Russell (Araluen) spoke from Palestine. The voices of these two heroes of Tobruk came over the air perfectly.’
In March 1943, the Braidwood Review20Braidwood Review and District Advocate (NSW : 1914-1954), Tuesday 9 March 1943, p 3. relayed ‘In a special message Pte. Tom Russell asks us to tender his sincere thanks to the Ladies’ Auxiliary for the parcels and comforts and canteen orders they forwarded to him while abroad. These were deeply appreciated, he says, and he will not soon forget the thoughtfulness of the good ladies. Other members of the party also speak in the same strain. The Braidwood ladies, they say, helped to brighten up their job considerably.’
The Braidwood Dispatch21Braidwood Dispatch and Mining Journal (NSW : 1888-1889; 1895; 1897-1954), Friday 15 October 1943, p 2. in October 1943 published ‘General regret was expressed when word was received of the death of Pte. Tom Russell, killed in action in New Guinea. One of the first in the district to enlist, he saw much service in the Middle East and New Guinea. A fine type of man, he was well liked throughout the district.’ His mother Ruby’s obituary published in the Cairns Post22Cairns Post (Qld : 1909-1954), Friday 2 December 1949, p 7. in December 1949, noted her son ‘known in his young days as an expert boxer, Thomas Russell, was killed in action with the A.I.F. at Finschhafen, [New Guinea].’
In October 1943, the Cairns Post23Cairns Post (Qld : 1909-1954), Thursday 21 October 1943, p 4. reported ‘Mrs. T. J. RUSSELL, Junior, and FAMILY, Herberton, and Mr. and Mrs. T. RUSSELL, Senior, and FAMILY, Atherton, extend sincere thanks to all relatives and friends for expressions of sympathy in the loss they have sustained by the death from wounds of Private Thomas James Russell, A.I.F.’
The Cairns Post24Cairns Post (Qld : 1909-1954), Wednesday 26 September 1951, p 5. published notices in 1951 in remembrance ‘RUSSELL.—In loving memory of my dear son and our brother, NX17008. Private Thomas Russell, who was killed at Finschhaven [Finschhafen New Guinea] on September 26. (Inserted by his loving father, Sam and Alsia.)’ ‘RUSSELL.—In loving memory of our brother, brother-in-law and uncle, Thomas James, who lost his life at Finchhafen [Finschhafen New Guinea] on September 26, 1943. “Always remembered.” (Inserted by Ruby, Tom and family.)’
Finschhafen is a town and port 80 kilometres east of Lae, on the Huon Peninsula in Morobe Province of eastern Papua New Guinea. It is often misspelt as Finschafen or Finschaven. The three-basin harbour, was named for German explorer Otto Finsch, and claimed by Germany in 1894, serving as German colonial administrative headquarters. Finschhafen was subsequently the site of a large Lutheran mission station before World War II and was a Japanese air base in 1942–43. Retaken by Australian forces, it was made an Allied military base.25britannica.com https://www.britannica.com/place/Finschhafen Accessed 22 April 2024.