David Russell (30 March 1911 – February 1945) was a

lance corporal Lance corporal is a military rank, used by many armed forces worldwide, and also by some police forces and other uniformed organisations. It is below the rank of corporal, and is typically the lowest non-commissioned officer (NCO), usually equi ...

with the 22nd (Motor) Battalion, New Zealand Infantry, 2nd NZEF, who was awarded the George Cross posthumously after being executed by

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) ** Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ge ...

forces in

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical ...

. Russell was born in

Ayr Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Subdivisions of Scotland, council area and the historic Shires of Scotlan ...

Scotland Scotland (, ) is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. Covering the northern third of the island of Great Britain, mainland Scotland has a Anglo-Scottish border, border with England to the southeast ...

, son of James and Jessie Russell, of Corsehill, Ayrshire, but the family emigrated to New Zealand. He worked as an orderly at Napier Hospital in

Hawke's Bay Hawke's Bay ( mi, Te Matau-a-Māui) is a local government region on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. The region's name derives from Hawke Bay, which was named by Captain James Cook in honour of Admiral Edward Hawke. The region i ...

before enlisting in the New Zealand Army in September 1939. He was captured at Reweisat Ridge in

Egypt Egypt ( ar, مصر , ), officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, is a transcontinental country spanning the northeast corner of Africa and southwest corner of Asia via a land bridge formed by the Sinai Peninsula. It is bordered by the Medit ...

in 1942 and taken to a

POW camp A prisoner-of-war camp (often abbreviated as POW camp) is a site for the containment of enemy fighters captured by a belligerent power in time of war. There are significant differences among POW camps, internment camps, and military prisons. ...

in Italy. He escaped and helped Italians who were assisting other Allied POWs to escape. He was particularly active in the

Ponte di Piave Ponte di Piave is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Treviso in the Italian region Veneto, located about northeast of Venice and about northeast of Treviso. Ponte di Piave borders the following municipalities: Breda di Piave, Chiar ...

township and district between 22–28 February 1945 but was recaptured. Russell refused to name the Italians he had assisted, and was shot by firing squad. A German officer who witnessed the execution said he died very bravely. His George Cross is displayed at the QEII Army Memorial Museum, Waiouru, New Zealand. On Sunday 2 December 2007, it was among a dozen medals stolen from the museum. On 16 February 2008 New Zealand Police announced all the medals had been recovered as a result of a NZ$300,000 reward offered by

Michael Ashcroft Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft, (born 4 March 1946) is a British-Belizean businessman, pollster and politician. He is a former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Ashcroft founded Michael A. Ashcroft Associates in 1972 and is ...

and Tom Sturgess.Stolen War Medals Recovered
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References

Bibliography

*The New Zealand Almanac {{DEFAULTSORT:Russell, David 1911 births 1945 deaths People from East Ayrshire British emigrants to New Zealand New Zealand Army personnel New Zealand military personnel killed in World War II New Zealand recipients of the George Cross World War II prisoners of war held by Germany World War II prisoners of war held by Italy Deaths by firearm in Italy New Zealand prisoners of war in World War II People from Napier, New Zealand British people executed by Nazi Germany New Zealand escapees Escapees from German detention Executed New Zealand people People executed by Nazi Germany by firing squad New Zealand people executed by Nazi Germany New Zealand military personnel of World War II