Military service
Burial/memorial information
Son of William and Janet McAllister, of Strathcona, Alberta.
Digital gallery of Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
picture taken on recruiting
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell with his sisters Grace and Ruby, on his way to school.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
From a World War 1 issue of the Edmonton Journal c.April 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell's diary of 1918. He listed daily activities when in camp in England, but only brief entries of his actions once he was in France. In many entries he recorded letters received and who he replied to.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell's last known letter, to his mother, written on April Fool's Day, April 1, 1918. He says he has only written on one side of each sheet of paper, he April Fool's Day joke to make his mother think he was sending a big fat letter full of news. He describes spending his leave close to Wailly in an old brick piggery that he and two friend cleaned out and that it was a safe and warm accommodation during the rains. There was a big cat that kept the rats out. Russell cautions his mother that he will be busy in the next few weeks and likely she won't get another letter for several weeks. Russell was killed on April 6 and the telegram telling the family of his death was received by them on April 17, 1918.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Christmas Card sent to Russell in the field by his English girlfriend, Adele Higson. Russell and 'Ada' met on April 5, 1917 when Russell was on a three day leave in London. The two went to many sights and shows and parks in London over the three day leave and formed a strong bond. Russell delayed getting back to camp as long as possible, ending up having to take 10 trains to make it back on time. Russell describes Ada's first letter to him, received on April 11, as 'the best letter ever'. On April 27 Russell became ill with mumps and was hospitalized; Ada sent him a book a week and a letter each day.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
The original wooden grave marker on Russell's grave in Wailly Orchard Cemetery. Date of death on the marker is April 8, 1918 and contradicted other information Russell's family had received saying that Russell died instantly in a shell strike on April 6, 1918. Distressed, the family wrote letters over several years trying to determine which information was correct. The Battalion War Diary lists 3 O.R. killed and 3 O.R. injured for this day, and later records were corrected to state April 6, 1918 was the date of Russell's death.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell's updated memorial stone at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, taken in 2010 on a family visit.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell's name and memorial inscription on the family memorial stone, Pleasantview Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell around age 12, on horseback, driving cattle.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell, on his way to school. Sister Ruby is standing and sister Grace is riding.
Digital gallery of
Private Russell Scobie McAllister
Russell, around age 12, driving cattle on family farm.
Image gallery
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picture taken on recruiting
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Russell with his sisters Grace and Ruby, on his way to school.
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From a World War 1 issue of the Edmonton Journal c.April 1918. Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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Submitted for the project Operation Picture Me
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Russell's diary of 1918. He listed daily activities when in camp in England, but only brief entries of his actions once he was in France. In many entries he recorded letters received and who he replied to.
-
Russell's last known letter, to his mother, written on April Fool's Day, April 1, 1918. He says he has only written on one side of each sheet of paper, he April Fool's Day joke to make his mother think he was sending a big fat letter full of news. He describes spending his leave close to Wailly in an old brick piggery that he and two friend cleaned out and that it was a safe and warm accommodation during the rains. There was a big cat that kept the rats out. Russell cautions his mother that he will be busy in the next few weeks and likely she won't get another letter for several weeks. Russell was killed on April 6 and the telegram telling the family of his death was received by them on April 17, 1918.
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Christmas Card sent to Russell in the field by his English girlfriend, Adele Higson. Russell and 'Ada' met on April 5, 1917 when Russell was on a three day leave in London. The two went to many sights and shows and parks in London over the three day leave and formed a strong bond. Russell delayed getting back to camp as long as possible, ending up having to take 10 trains to make it back on time. Russell describes Ada's first letter to him, received on April 11, as 'the best letter ever'. On April 27 Russell became ill with mumps and was hospitalized; Ada sent him a book a week and a letter each day.
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The original wooden grave marker on Russell's grave in Wailly Orchard Cemetery. Date of death on the marker is April 8, 1918 and contradicted other information Russell's family had received saying that Russell died instantly in a shell strike on April 6, 1918. Distressed, the family wrote letters over several years trying to determine which information was correct. The Battalion War Diary lists 3 O.R. killed and 3 O.R. injured for this day, and later records were corrected to state April 6, 1918 was the date of Russell's death.
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Russell's updated memorial stone at Wailly Orchard Cemetery, taken in 2010 on a family visit.
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Russell's name and memorial inscription on the family memorial stone, Pleasantview Cemetery, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
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Russell around age 12, on horseback, driving cattle.
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Russell, on his way to school. Sister Ruby is standing and sister Grace is riding.
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Russell, around age 12, driving cattle on family farm.
In the Books of Remembrance
Commemorated on:
Page 452 of the First World War Book of Remembrance.
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WAILLY ORCHARD CEMETERY Pas de Calais, France
Wailly is a village in the Department of the Pas-de-Calais about 6 kilometres south-west from Arras in the valley of the little river Crinchon. WAILLY ORCHARD CEMETERY stands above the village on its outskirts in part of the old orchard.
For more information, visit Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
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