Desmond Joseph Russell

Writer

Conflict:

WW2

Additional Information:

Son of John George and Catherine Mary Agnes Russell, of Waitara, Taranaki; nephew of Constance Badley, of Waitara.

References:

CWGC

NZ WAR GRAVES

Biographical Notes:

Probationary Writer Desmond Joseph Russell, RNZN, #2363, died on 4 March 1942 when ‘HMS Anking ‘was sunk 250 miles south of Java. Note: CWGC has death as 31.3.42 aged 27 from Waitara. (Michael Pether)

One of five New Zealanders aboard the British ship, SS Anking, on British Admiralty service , left Batavia (Jakarta) on February 27th 1942 for Fremantle. On March 3, she was intercepted by Japanese cruisers and sunk by gunfire about 200 miles east of Christmas Island. 16 Survivors were picked up 4 days later

[Charles Hocking, Dictionary of Disasters as Sea during the Age of Steam]

Public Contributions:

He was in the Navy and was on one of the ships escaping Batavia as the Japanese advanced. No known grave or official statement of where or when he was killed but a witness did come back and tell the ... Read More

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Casualty

Service Number:

2363

Name:

Desmond Joseph Russell

Rank:

Writer

Date of Birth:

Not known

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Unit:

Royal New Zealand Navy

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Missing, Presumed Killed

Died Between:

31 - 04 March 1942

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW2

Embarkation Details

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

New Zealand Naval Memorial, Devonport, Auckland

Cemetery Reference:

Panel 6.

Cemetery Location:

New Zealand