HMS Russell
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3.
Jan. 7, 2012

I am currently documenting gravestones in Houghton Regis and found these inscriptions: HMS Russell . At Houghton Regis, Garden of Remembrance, Cemetery Road:

In Memory of ANNIE BELOVED WIFE OF THE REV J.T. FROST PASTOR OF BAPTIST CHURCH HOUGHTON REGIS 1886-1900 WHO DIED MAY 30TH 1896 AGED 34 YEARS "SHE OPENED HER MOUTH WITH WISDOM; AND IN HER TONGUE WAS THE LAW OF KINDNESS" Also of the above REV J. T. FROST WHO DIED MARCH 14TH 1916 AGED 57 YEARS. "A GOOD SOLDIER OF JESUS CHRIST" Also of ASSISTANT PAYMASTER J. STUART FROST. R.N.R. ONLY SON OF THE ABOVE WHO LOST HIS LIFE THROUGH THE SINKING OF H.M.S. RUSSELL ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN, APRIL 27TH 1916 AGED 28 YEARS "FAITHFUL UNTIL DEATH"


Alan D. Winter,
Bedfordshire Highways Representative,
Houghton Regis Town Council,
Houghton Regis, Bedfordshire, UK
The gravestone at Houghton Regis, Garden of Remembrance.
Close-up of the inscription at the bottom of the stone.


2.
Jan. 26, 2009

My Grandfather, John Kinloch, was a survivor of the sinking of the Russell off Malta. I have copies of two telegrams from the Admiralty to his wife; the first advising that "List of survivors not yet received", the second "Kinloch saved". They were economical with their words!

He was a torpedoman and went on to serve on the light cruiser Centaur. After WW1 he worked at Chatham Dockyard until after WW2. I have a copy of the report of the sinking from the Times of April 29 and May 1, 1916, but of course there wasn't much room to mention the sinking of a mere battleship, with page after page of reports of the Easter Rebellion in Dublin.

David Kinloch

The first telegram.

 

The second telegram.

 

April 29, 1916 London Times page 6 article.

 

April 29, 1916 London Times page 8 article.

 

May 1, 1916 London Times article.

 


1.
Nov. 9, 2008

My great uncle Arthur Gardner, age 25 was killed on HMS Russell 27th April 1916, hit a mine in Malta lost 100 lives that day. But he was awarded a medal for bravery as he threw a unexploded bomb over the side of the
ship and saved many lives. Always remember the brave-dean.

Dean Cocks
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