-
Charles Russell was born
-
The 1939-1945 Star
This medal Is a six-pointed star made out of yellow copper zinc alloy. It was awarded to an individual for six months service of active operations for Army and Navy, and two months for active air-crew service. The ribbon has three equal stripes: dark blue, red and light blue to represent the Navy, army and air forceCharles Russell was awarded this medal. -
The Defence Medal (1939-1954)
This medal is silver and circular. It was given to those who served in the forces in non-operational areas subjected to air attack or closely threatened, for three or more years. It’s ribbon has a stripe of orange in the middle and green then black then green stripes on either side of the orange. The orange represents the enemy attacks on the green land of England and the black represents the black-outs. Charles Russell was awarded this medal. -
The Canadian Volunteer Service Medal
This medal is granted to a person of any rank in the Navy, Military or Air Forces of Canada who voluntarily served on Active Service and have honourably completed eighteen months total voluntary service from September 3, 1939 to March 1, 1947. The ribbon had a royal blue centre with two equal stripes of scarlet and dark green and the bar has a silver maple leaf on it. Charles Russell was awarded this medal. -
The War Medal
The War Medal was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between September 3rd 1939 and September 2nd 1945. It had King George VI on one side and a lion standing on top of a two-headed dragon on the other side. It’s ribbon has seven coloured stripes: red, dark blue, white, red, white, dark blue and red which represent the Union Flag. Charles Russell was awarded the War Medal. -
25- Pounder Gun/Howitzer
Charles Russell was a gunner for the 12th Field Regiment. He operated a 25-Pounder Gun/Howitzer. This gun was acclaimed the best divisional artillery weapon in WW2. It was a British design but Canada produced many of the guns and ammunition. It was a good artillery weapon because it could shell targets at a fairly far distance. The standard projectile was a highly explosive shell butt here were also other types of carrier shells made that included smoke, flare and star shells. -
Training Camp in Perterborough
Charles Russell did his training at a Canadian Army Training Centre in Peterborough. He was part of the C.A. (B) T.C.-32 Number 11 Platoon. -
Petawawa
In 1942 Charles Russell was in Petawawa at a Canadian Artillery Training Centre. From this letter to his wife Margaret Russell we know that he was in Petawaw on September 27th, 1942. There he was training as a part of the 12th Field Regiment. The 12th Field Regiment was a Canadian Artillery regiment. Charles Russell was roughly seventeen when he trained and served in Petawawa. -
Canadian Forces Base Petawawa
In 1904 the Department of Militia and Defence purchased the 22,340 acres. During both World Wars it was the site of an internment camp for Canadians who were deemed to be enemy aliens and enemy service personal. It was also the location for a labour camp for Chinese labourers being sent to the Western Front and unemployed men during the depression. In 1946 it was established as a permanent camp. Administration buildings, barracks, homes and schools were constructed -
Operation Overlord
On July 3rd, 1943 the Commander of the 1st Canadian Army informed the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division that they had been selected for assault training with the intent of taking part in the OVERLORD landings. Operation Overlord was the code name for the Battle of Normandy. -
Battle of Normandy
Charles Russell was one of the 14,000 Canadian soldiers who fought in the Battle of Normandy. There he was part of the 12th artillery field regiment who joined up with the 3rd Canadian division. On June 6th, 1944 the 3rd Canadian division landed on Juno Beach at Courseulles-sur-Mer. On the beach at Courseulles the Canadians faced the almighty German troops. The beach had been fortified with guns, mines and barbed wire. -
The France and Germany Star
This medal was awarded for one day or more of service in France, Belgium, Holland or Germany between June 6th 1944 (D-Day) and May 8th 1945. The ribbon consists of equal stripes of blue, white, red, white and blue to represent the Union Flag, the France flag and the Netherlands flag. Charles Russell was awarded this medal. -
Normandy Campaign Medal
Normandy Campaign Medal was commissioned by the Normandy Veterans Associations is a commemorative medal to those who took part in the Normandy Campaign. It is available only to veterans of the Normandy Campaign to purchase. It’s ribbon is composed of light blue, navy blue, red, navy blue and light blue. Charles Russell got this medal for his service during the Battle of Normandy. -
Charles L. Russell's medals
-
Liberation of the Netherlands
On March 23rd the Allied forces began their trip across the Rhine. Days later the 3rd Division crossed the Rhine and headed towards Emmerich. They advanced through Zutphen, Deventer, Zwolle, Meppel, Steenwijk, and Leeuwarden. Once the 3rd Division reached the North Sea then advanced East to clear the coast. They ended the war on German soil near Emden. On May 5th, 1945 Colonel-General Johannes Blaskowitz, a German general, formally surrendered in Netherlands to Canada.
