Guy Russell

Sir Guy Russell
Vice Admiral Sir Guy Russell, Commander in Chief Far East Station, leaves his old flagship HMS Glory in Kure, Japan, September 1951
Born	(1898-04-14)14 April 1898
Died	25 September 1977(1977-09-25) (aged 79) Wisborough Green
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1911–1958
Rank	Admiral
Commands held	HMS Protector HMS Cumberland HMS Nelson HMS Duke of York 2nd Cruiser Squadron of Home Fleet Far East Fleet
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Admiral Sir Guy Herbrand Edward Russell GBE KCB DSO (14 April 1898 – 25 September 1977) was a British naval commander.

Naval career

Russell was the second son of Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill, and his wife Margaret.^[1] Educated at Stonehouse School, Russell entered the Royal Navy in 1911^[2] and attended Royal Naval College, Osborne and Dartmouth. During World War I, he went to sea as a midshipman aboard HMS Implacable, which supported the Dardanelles landings.^[2] He would later serve aboard Royal Oak during the Battle of Jutland,^[2] and was mentioned in despatches for his war service.

Russell saw service on a variety of ships, destroyers, cruisers, battleships, shore training establishments, and on the staff of the Commander-in-Chief Mediterranean, before his relatively early promotion to commander in 1931. This well-rounded record was combined with a reputation for adaptiveness and innovation. He completed the naval staff course at Royal Naval College, Greenwich in 1931 and became executive officer of Queen Elizabeth, flagship of the Mediterranean fleet^[2] under Sir William Fisher. Russell continued to excel in this position, and was promoted to captain in 1936. After further studies at the Imperial Defence College, Russell became Assistant Director of Plans in 1938.^[2]

On the outbreak of World War II, Russell first commanded the net layer HMS Protector,^[2] and then the cruiser HMS Cumberland.^[2] In late 1941, Russell became naval liaison officer to the Governor of Gibraltar, Viscount Gort, and subsequently followed Gort to Malta as his chief of staff.^[2] After the relief of the island by Operation Stone Age, Russell would move on to command HMS Nelson^[2] and then HMS Duke of York, flagship of the Home Fleet.^[2] It was under his command that Duke of York sank the Scharnhorst at the Battle of North Cape,^[2] and he was appointed to the DSO as a result, having already been twice mentioned in despatches during the war. A year later, he was appointed to a staff position, naval assistant to the Second Sea Lord,^[2] and promoted rear admiral in 1945. In addition to his DSO, he was made a CBE in 1943.

Russell returned to the Imperial Defence College from 1946 until 1948^[2] (becoming a CB that year), and then spent a year commanding the 2nd Cruiser Squadron of Home Fleet,^[2] earning the respect of the then Commander-in-Chief, Sir Rhoderick McGrigor. With the reserves until 1951,^[2] he was then appointed Commander-in-Chief, Far East Fleet^[2] and made a KCB. He served on that station until 1953, taking part in the Korean War, and was promoted admiral in 1952. Returning from the Far East, he was made a GBE and served as Second Sea Lord and Chief of Naval Personnel until 1955.^[2] Russell's acute intelligence and bluff but kindly manner, combined with his broad experience, served him well in this position. He was Commandant of the Imperial Defence College from 1956 until his retirement in 1958.^[2]

After retiring, Russell devoted himself to education and the training of young people, at Wellington College, Cranleigh School, Gordon Boys' School, and Radley College. An excellent oarsman (like his father), avid golfer and good shot, he died at his home in Wisborough Green in 1977.

Family

He married Hon. (Helen) Elizabeth Blades, daughter of Rowland Blades, 1st Baron Ebbisham, in 1939. They had two sons and a daughter:

• Dr. James Rowland Russell (b. 28 March 1940)
• Oliver Henry Russell (b. 7 May 1942)
• Margaret Elizabeth Russell (b. 11 October 1945)

References

• Davis, William (2004). "Russell, Sir Guy Herbrand Edward (1898–1977)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 12 August 2007.