Major General Andrew Hamilton Russell. Source National Library
Camp Russell was named in honour of Major General Sir Andrew Russell 1868-1960. He was sometimes known as Ariki Toa of a ‘fighting chief’.
Andrew Russell was a New Zealand military leader in the First World War, known for his meticulous planning.
Russell was given command of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade and sailed to Egypt in 1914. Six months later the brigade landed at Gallipoli, without their horses, as infantrymen. Russell’s men were instrumental in the seizure of Chunuk Bair, clearing Ottoman outposts and opening the way for an infantry advance. Russell was knighted for his efforts in 1915.
In 1916 Russell took control of the New Zealand Division in France. He was a front- line general, seen to take personal risks. The New Zealand Division became one of the best fighting divisions in France, largely due to Russell’s insistence on daily inspections, zealous discipline and efficient administration.
The New Zealand Division were involved in the third battle of the Somme in 1916, and, in June 1917, they were tasked with capturing the town of Messines (Mesen) in Flanders. Russell’s aggressive strategy resulted in the seizure of the town, but their concentration in ‘an awkward salient’ led to nearly 3700 New Zealand casualties, including 700 deaths.
The New Zealand Division again suffered severe casualties in October 1917, during the attack on Passchendaele. With artillery hampered by rain and mud, an attack on Bellevue Spur faltered, leaving more than 800 New Zealanders killed and almost 2000 wounded or missing. This represents the highest recorded loss of New Zealand lives in a single day,
After the war, Russell was president of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association for more than a decade. He lived on his sheep station at Tunanui until his death at the age of 92.
Russell's military achievements were recognised with a CB in 1916 and, a KCB in 1917. He was awarded the French Légion d'honneur (croix d'officier) and Croix de guerre (avec palme), the Belgian Ordre de Léopold (commander) and Croix de guerre, the Serbian Order of the White Eagle (first class) and the Montenegrin Order of Danilo.
Adapted by Patrick Whatman from the DNZB biography by Christoper Pugsley Andrew Hamilton Russell