Private Gerald William Russell - 5/400269

 

Private Gerald Russell grew up in Armadale, south of Perth.  He is still remembered today in Armadale with a park in Hilbert named after him.  But in the years between his death in Korea and the park being named after him it appeared he may have been forgotten when the marble panel from the old Armadale War Memorial, commemorating his service and untimely death while on active service in the Korean War, was found in a rubbish skip.  It was luckily rescued and is now in Armadale’s History House. 


https://collectionswa.net.au/items/26954f33-5871-4380-95b0-0e1e86cb7d79

In fact, Russell has been very much remembered since his death in Korea on 12 May 1953, even though at the time of his death he had already lost most of his family with his mother and the brother who was his only sibling predeceasing him. [i]

Russell had a good friend Ian Mangan who he enlisted with and served with in the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Australian Regiment, (3RAR).  Mangan was the one who pushed for Russell to be remembered in Armadale and eventually in 2001 the Gerald Russell Park in the Armadale suburb of Hilbert opened.  This park consists of a series of three lakes and borders the Wungong River close to where Russell and Mangan grew up and played as children.

Author's Photo of Gerald Russell Park, Armadale WA. 

Russell also had a girlfriend at the time of his enlistment in the army in 1953.  This lady, who only passed away several years ago, remembered Russell for the rest of her life.  The Armadale History House has a beautifully framed memorial of Russell, that includes a photo of him in uniform as well as his Korean service medals, which his girlfriend requested. 

https://collectionswa.net.au/items/e90e77dd-dcec-4de6-b6a9-505f8ce10b95  

Before he enlisted Russell worked for the Postmaster General’s Department, which was responsible for both mail and telephone services. He was also a member of the local cycle racing club.  According to the West Australian newspaper, Russell had been involved in a motorcycle accident on Albany Highway in Gosnells in 1950, which resulted in him being taken to hospital by ambulance for concussion and broken ribs. [ii]

Australia had been sending servicemen to the Korean conflict for over two years when Russell arrived in Korea. Russell was attached to the Support Company of 3RAR.  This photo of Russell was taken in Kalgoorlie prior to him leaving for Korea.

City of Armadale Library Online Resource

During 1953 3RAR was mainly patrolling the no man’s land between the trench lines that ran along the 38th Parallel. [iii] Little Gibraltar was the name given to a prominent hill overlooking the front lines and 3RAR moved into position on this hill at the beginning of May 1953.  3RAR’s Unit Diaries record Russell’s death which occurred when a 60mm mortar fell in the A Company area. [iv] 

According to the signage at the Gerald Russell Park in Armadale, Russell’s friend Ian Mangan, was present when he died, and from the Korean Nominal Roll it appears that Mangan was rotated out from the front line the next day. Mangan never forgot his childhood friend Gerald Russell and the park dedicated to him is testament to his efforts to ensure Russell’s service and untimely death are not forgotten.  

Russell was the first person from Armadale to die in the Korean War and it is pleasing to see his memory live on in the park named after him, in the Armadale History House Museum and on the new Armadale War Memorial, pictured below.  


Thanks to Christen Bell from the City of Armadale’s History House Museum for his assistance in researching the life of Gerald Russell. 


[i] Family Notices (1950, September 25). The West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), p. 33. Retrieved July 23, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47888429

[ii] MOTOR CYCLIST INJURED (1950, September 25). The West Australian (Perth, WA: 1879 - 1954), p. 4. Retrieved July 23, 2023, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47888471

[iii] 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U52113  Accessed 23 July 2023.

[iv] Australian Army Unit War Diaries, Korea. AWM85 4/53 (May 1953) 3 Battalion the Royal Australian Regiment. https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C1370569. Accessed 23 July 2023.

 



 


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