1790 Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Fraser Russell
CMG (1901) MA (1877 Ed) MB CM (Ed 1881)
21 Dec 1856 [Kilmodan Argyllshire] – 12 June 1938 [Edinburgh]
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Fraser Russell was educated at Edinburgh University. He served in South Africa with the Scots Greys, where he took part in the relief of Kimberley, and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, Zululand and Cape Colony, and was present in the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Karee Siding, Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill.
He received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps and in 1900, he was appointed an Ordinary Member 3rd Class or Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in recognition of his services in South Africa.
Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Fraser Russell commanded Cottonera Hospital from 1909 to 1911.
Service Record
4 Feb 1882 Appointed Surgeon on probation. Scored 2270 marks in the examination held in February 1882 by Surgeons on Probation completing the course at the Army Medical School Netley. He came 11th out of 23 candidates with the first marks of 2720 being achieved by Surgeon Norman Macbeth Reid, who also won the Martin Memorial Gold Medal.
11 Feb 1882 Certified by Francis Stephen Bennet Francois de Chaumont Professor of Hygiene that surgeon A F Russell attended with punctual regularity the course of Hygiene at the Army Medical School Netley, including the course of chemical analysis in the Laboratory during the winter session 1881–82s.
Apr 1882 Moved from Aldershot to Edinburgh.
18 May 1882 Completed a course of instruction as laid down in the Manual of exercises for training Bearer Companies at the Army Hospital Corps Training School.
4 Feb 1894 Surgeon-Major.
11 Oct 1899–31 May 1902 Anglo–Boer War
5 Nov 1899–26 May 1904 Served in South Africa, where he took part in the relief of Kimberley, and in operations in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, Zululand, and Cape Colony, and was present in the actions at Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Karee Siding, Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill.
16 Apr 1901 Mentioned in dispatches (South Africa).
27 Sep 1901 Appointed an Ordinary Member 3rd Class or Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in recognition of his services in South Africa.
4 Feb 1902 Lieutenant Colonel RAMC.
24 Sep 1908 Arrived at Malta.
1909 Officer in charge Military Hospital Cottonera.
Sep 1909 Acting PMO in the absence of Colonel MacNeece James Gaussen.
21 Aug 1910 On home leave
.
8 Sep 1910 Returned from leave.
Officer in charge of Cottonera Military Hospital and 30th Coy RAMC.
1911 Officer in charge Military Hospital Cottonera and Officer commanding 30 Coy RAMC.
18 Mar 1911 On leave in Scotland. In his absence, Capt Babington Marcus Hill assumed command of 30 Coy RAMC.
15 Apr 1911 Returned to Malta.
11 Oct 1911 Left for Cairo.
Command of Military Hospital Cottonera and 30 Coy RAMC passed on to Lt Col Henry Maxwell Sloggett
2 Nov 1911 Colonel L/RAMC.
21 Dec 1913 Retired.
28 July 1914 Start of the Great War.
1914 – 1918 He rejoined for service during the Great War which he served as Assistant Director of Medical Services Salisbury Plain.
12 June 1938 Died at a nursing home in Edinburgh, aged 81 years.
Bibliography
- Drew R., 1968. Entry No: 6909. Medical Officers in the British Army 1660 – 1960. Volume 1: 1660 – 1898. London: Wellcome Historical Medical Library.
- RAMC/PE/3/27/Drew. Manuscript for Drew's Roll.
- Papers and souvenirs of Surgeon Alexander Fraser Russell.
- Cavalry Doctor letters written from the field 1900–1901 during the Anglo Boer War by Colonel Alexander Fraser Russell MB CMG.
- Succession Books Vol XVII, Returns of statement of service of RAMC Officers.
- Deaths in the services, Br Med J (1938), 263 (Published 30 July 1938).