Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

An interesting Nandi operations and life-saving pair awarded to Mr J. W. P. Russell, Director of Uganda Transport, late East Surrey Regiment

Africa General Service 1902-56, 1 clasp, Nandi 1905-06 (J. P. Russell, Civil D.G.T.); Germany, Anhalt, Ducal Badge of Honour, ‘Für Rettung aus Gefar’, silver, unnamed as issued; together with an oval bronze medal of the Thames Punting Club (J. W. Russell, District Heat Juniors 1891) nearly extremely fine (3) £600-£800

Provenance: John Tamplin Collection, Dix Noonan Webb, September 2003.

John William Pemberton Russell was born in about 1870-71, and educated at Elizabeth College in Guernsey. He was commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, East Surrey Regiment on 5 March 1887, promoted to Lieutenant in April 1889, and resigned his commission on 4 December 1895.

Going out to Africa later, Russell was appointed Assistant Transport Officer in the Uganda Protectorate on 21 August 1899. He became Chief of Customs in April 1904, and Director of Uganda Transport in July 1905. He served in the Nandi expedition of 1905-06, and received the medal and clasp for his services as Civil Director of Government Transport.

In The Uganda Official Gazette of 1 November 1909, there appeared the following announcement:

‘His Highness the Duke of Anhalt has been pleased to confer upon Mr. J. W. P. Russell, Director of Uganda Transport, the Anhalt Ducal Badge of Honour in recognition of his services in saving from drowning on the 7th September, 1908, off the Railway Pier at Entebbe, Miss M. Kahn a native of Anhalt, and His Majesty the King has given his gracious permission to Mr. Russell to wear the decoration bestowed.’

A total of 121 of these medals were awarded during the period of its existence between December 1850 and February 1917, when the Duchy shortly afterwards ended.

Russell remained as Director of Uganda Transport for some seventeen years and retired from the Uganda service on 15 June 1922. He died at Halliford Cottage, Shepperton, on 31 January 1953, aged 83. Sold with further research including a copy of a group photograph taken at the opening of the Entebbe European Hospital in April 1904.