City of Armadale - History House > Records

OBELISK PANEL - KOREA GERALD RUSSELL

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Overview

Rectangular marble panel in landscape format from the Armadale War Memorial obelisk. The panel is dedicated to one soldier who fought and died during the Korean War. The panel lettering which is over four lines, has been carved out and filled in with lead. It is in one piece with no visible signs of damage.
Panel text reads: [EX 5400269 / PRIVATE GERALD WILLIAM RUSSELL / KILLED IN ACTION IN KOREA / ON MAY 12TH 1953].

Historical information

Member of 3rd Battalion, The Royal Australian Regiment, Service number 5400269. Served as part of Australian contingent for United Nations forces during the Korean War. Was killed in action at '355 Little Gibraltar' on the 12th May 1953. Was employed at PMG and local cycle racing member. Local Park named in his honour in 2004.
Gerald Russell Park where the memorial service is held was dedicated to Private Gerald William Russell, who served with the 3rd Battalion Royal Australian Regiment.
Jerry, as he was fondly called, was only 21 years of age when he was killed in action by mortar fire that targeted his observation post. He was a local man with strong links to the Hilbert area and spent a lot of time by the Wungong River is his early years. It is important that we all take a moment to remember young men like Jerry who served our country during this conflict, and all wars that followed.
This panel was possibly added in 1959 when the memorial was moved. The panel to the WWII fallen was also added.
In December 1988 the Armadale branch of the Returned Services League decided to refurbish the memorial which included the replacement of the original marble plaques. The plaques had been thrown into a skip bin but were salvaged by Mr Kim Fletcher, who then gave them to History House Museum.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-COA2016.55G

Themes

People
Social History
War and Conflict

Material

White Marble

Width

18 mm

Height or length

415 mm

Keywords

Armadale Obelisk War Memorial

355 Little Gibrata Korea

RUSSEL Gerald Willliam Mr

Australian Defence Force

Korean War

Soldiers Memorial Park Armadale

3rd Battalion The Royal Australian Regiment

Armadale Obelisk War Memorial

Statement of significance

This object is part of collection that tells the story of the City of Armadale's connection to armed conflicts around the world from the late 1800s to today. The collection explores the experiences of people associated with the City of Armadale who went to war, their experiences when they returned as well as how these conflicts impacted the community who stayed behind.

Primary significance criteria

Historic significance

Social or spiritual significance

Comparative significance criteria

Interpretive capacity

Rare or representative

Well provenanced

City of Armadale - History House

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