On a Mission.

Starting at rock bottom,i have been asked to check out this chaps service history by his grandson.The chap in question is Mr Howard Russon. He is believed to have lived and grew up in the Stourbridge area.I have a picture of his impressive medal awards, see below.
There is access to a living daughter for more information which I will follow up and hopefully obtain his service records.
That's all I have at the moment. regards.......Graham.

 

Some possibilities:

Howard Russon birth registered Q1 1921, Stourbridge, Worcestershire. Mother’s maiden name Heathcock.
Howard Russon married Joan Smith Q1 1946 Stourbridge.

Casualty List No 553 dated 1 July 1941
Middle East, Greece, Missing
Royal Army Service Corps
T214547 RUSSON Dvr H 28.4.41

Casualty List No 594 dated 19 Aug 1941
Middle East, Greece, Prisoner of War
Royal Army Service Corps
T214547 RUSSON Dvr H

Casualty List No 1835 dated 18 Aug 1945
Middle East, Greece, Previously reported POW now not POW
Royal Army Service Corps
T214547 RUSSON Dvr H

Also:
Prison camp: Wolfsberg (Karnten)
Type: Stalag
CampNo: 18A

 

Possible family in 1939, living (?25) Saltbrook Road, Lye, Stourbridge
Samuel Russon dob 10Aug1894 sheet metal worker
Alice Russon dob 30Jul1897
Howard Russon dob 29Dec1920 hammer driver, forge
Geoffrey Russon dob 14Dec1926 school
+ another record closed

Samuel Russon marriage registered to Alice Heathcock Q1 1919 Stourbridge

 

Hi Tony,

Thankyou, that's given me a great start.I feel this chap will be very interesting to research.I hope to speak to his daughter over the coming weekend and get some more info.
His grandson tells me he's desperate to find out his grandfathers service history.I reminded him it could take many weeks even months to complete a basic search.
Whatever crops up I will come back to this thread and update any interested members that may be following it.

cheers .....Graham.

 

If he was in the bag from 41-45, how did he get a Burma Star?
Africa Star plus Burma Star limits the options a bit.

 

Hi idler,
Good question,the simple answer is at this stage I don't know.
We firstly need his service records.I have already downloaded the forms and will pass them on to the family.Since I don't do this for gain all costs have to be met by them.

regards........Graham.

 

Wonder if the Burma Star belongs to another family member.

There's an Arthur Frederick Russon, son of Arthur & Maryann of Birmingham on CWGC. Could be a cousin, but then again maybe no connection at all.
Casualty

If there is a family connection, the Birmingham Mail printed this message 5/6/43. Arthur Russon, LAC, RAF, missing Far East Mar '42. Many happy returns on your 23rd birthday. Mum, Dad, Frances, Gwen & ?

 

Cheers amberdog,
I'm open minded on anything at the moment until I can verify where he was.Below is the original medal box.

 

UK, British Prisoners of War, 1939-1945
Name: H Russon
Rank: Driver
Army Number: T/214547
Regiment: Royal Army Service Corps
POW Number: 6997
Camp Type: Stalag
Camp Number: XVIII-A
Camp Location: Wolfsberg, Austria
Record Office: Royal Army Service Corps Record Office, Ore Place, Hastings, Sussex
Record Office Number: 29

Confirming Tony's details earlier


and again

England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1916-2005
Name: Howard Russon
Mother's Maiden Surname: Heathcock
Date of Registration: Jan-Feb-Mar 1921
Registration district: Stourbridge
Inferred County: Worcestershire
Volume Number: 6c
Page Number: 54

England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007
Name: Howard Russon
Death Age: 73
Birth Date: 29 Dec 1920
Registration Date: Nov 1994
Registration district: Dudley
Inferred County: West Midlands
Register Number: A31F
District and Subdistrict: 0651A
Entry Number: 165

His brother:
Record Details
Surname: RUSSON
First Name(s): Arthur Frederick
Rank: L.A.C.
Service No: 805512
Service: AF
Date of Capture: 20/03/1942
Unit: 605 Squadron
Held: Held Java, Singapore, Hokkaido (Hakadate Area)
Died: Died Hakadate Area
Date: 1.12.42
Buried: Buried Yokohama


TD

 

605 (County of Warwick) Squadron were based on Malta from November 1941-February 1942, prior to transferring to the Far East
605 County of Warwick Squadron - Bases

Howard Russon may have applied for his brother's medals?

 

Great work everyone,
When I started this thread, I had no idea there was a brother serving in the far east. It makes sense as mentioned by Amberdog, and Guy, Howard probably applied for his brothers medals.
Is it a common thing to put relatives medals on the same rack, and not separate, to avoid confusion ?

Lots to be getting on with.

many thanks .........Graham.

 

From info above they can't be brothers. Howard's parents are Samual and Alice. Arthur's parents are Arthur and Mary Ann. As Amberdog says they could be cousins.
Tim

 

Further thought. Arthur would have been awarded the Pacific Star rather than the Burma Star or very unlikely the Burma Star with the Pacific clasp.
Tim

 

cheers Timuk you may be right.

Just received a text, Howard Russon did not have a brother called Arthur Frederick Russon.
He had 2 younger brothers, who did not serve in the armed forces.(Colin and Jeffery/Geoffery)

best...........Graham.

 

It might be worth sketching up a family tree for family further afield to explain the Burma medal.

It could just as easily have been bought along the way. It was a sad thing the medals didn't get engraved like WW1.

You might not get to the bottom of that medal, but I hope you do.

Is that 1953 on the postal date stamp of the medal box?

 

Evening Amberdaog,
Don't we just love a mystery,
The wife and myself both agree using a magnifying glass, the date stamp reads 12/7/53.
I will visit the family in person over the coming days and get more details about this chap and any of his relatives.+ get some movement on his service record.

best........Graham.

 

The style of the medal issue slip and label/box defininatly suggest to me a issue date in the 1970s-1980s,( I've had many boxed groups over the years)

also the 1939/45 star has the larger ring suspension which are later issues, the other stars have the smallest ring suspension which were original issue, the medal office could of been running low on stocks,by the 1970s so might explain the 2 types in one box, or they may of got mixed up with with other family medals etc when mounted up??
Good luck with the research.
Regards empire

 

Although the certificate at post 8 indicates they were all issued together.
Tim

 

1939 REGISTER TRANSCRIPTION
Saltbrook Road, Lye, Nr Stourbridge, Worcestershire
NAME DOB OCCUPATION
Samuel C Russon 10 Aug 1894 Sheet Metal Holloware
Alice Russon 30 Jul 1897 Nil
Howard Russon 29 Dec 1920 Hammer Driver Forge
Geoffrey Russon 14 Dec 1926 Scholar
Sorry, this record is officially closed
Joseph Brettle 16 Jan 1904 Coach Painter

 

Thanks guy's for your imput,
Well spotted empire ref: the ring on the 39/45 star.
I need his service records (Howard Russon) to confirm what awards he received, and determine who the Burma star belongs to.
Spent most of yesterday evening checking Stallag XV111-A.
Loads of info to check out.

many thanks all...........Graham.