Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel John Russell 12th Lancers.

is this the same chap. Or are there 2 John Russell's One in the 10th Hussars and one in the 12th Lancers.

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"John Cecil Russell was born in 1839. He joined the 10th Hussars as a cornet on 18 Sep 1860, promoted to lieutenant 16 Aug 1864, captain 28 May 1870. He left the 10th Hussars in 1872 and transferred to the 12th Lancers. During the Ashanti War of 1873 he served as ADC to Sir Archibald Alison. He became well-known in the Zulu War as being patronised by Lord Chelmsford. He had reached a brevet majority on 1 April 1874 and was made brevet lieutenant-colonel on 29 Nov 1879 so that he could be put in command of the colonial volunteers over the head of Major Dartnell. This at first caused some trouble as the volunteers did not accept his authority. At Kambula, Evelyn Wood was relieved to have Russell arrive with a squadron of Mounted Infantry but he found himself in danger of being caught up in the disaster at Hlobane. He misinterpreted an order from Wood which required him to hold a position at Zunguin’s Nek when the Zulus were approaching. But he thought Wood meant another nek further away from the battle going on at Hlobane.
Russell was on the staff at Aldershot as ADC to Sir T McMahon in 1873, for 5 years. He was then made commandant of the Cavalry Depot. He was appointed Extra Equerry to the Prince of Wales in 1880 with the substantive rank of major, gazetted 5 June. He was second in command of the 12th Lancers in 1881, and later that year promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, on 1 July, in command of the regiment. He was promoted to Colonel on 7 Feb 1884 and relinquished command on 30 Nov 1885. He later reached the rank of major-general and was married, producing a daughter, Hester Frances Russell who married Hugh Burdett Money-Coutts, 6th Lord Latymer.

Major General Russell and his wife lived at Barton Court, Canterbury. He was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) and died in 1909. The photo shows him in the undress frock coat of the 10th Hussars c1864."

Pete there's a Lt. J.M.Russell 17th Lcrs , and there's John Cecil Russell who the Bio's are of . I don't know if the photo you posted is actually J.C.Russell who the bio is about , unless.... it's a very very early pic of him , JY will probably know ? ......
90th

Gary,

The above photograph and text appears on the British Empire website.

John Cecil Russell attended New College, Oxford, whilst at Oxford he joined the Oxford University Rifle Volunteer Corps. On 1st March 1860 he was promoted from Colour-Serjeant to Ensign within the corps.

On 18th September 1860 he was commissioned as a Cornet by purchase in the 11th Light Dragoons, however his time as a Cherrybum was short-lived as on 16th October 1860 he transferred to the 10th Light Dragoons.

The photograph above is consistent with a Hussar Officer in the mid-1860’s wearing a frock coat and leather reinforced overalls. That said there is a far better photograph of Russell in the Royal Trust Collection dated 1866 in “Stable Dress”.

JY

90th wrote:

Pete there's a Lt. J.M.Russell 17th Lcrs ,  and there's John Cecil Russell who the Bio's are of . I don't know if the photo you posted is actually J.C.Russell who the bio is about , unless.... it's a very very early pic of him , JY will probably know ? ......
90th

Click Here

Reading the text, it appears they both caused problems when put in command of the volunteers camp. Fairly sure these are the same person.

There some information regarding Russell's part with Evelyn Wood, Russell being with the 12th Lancers

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Peter,

The photograph and the biography do indeed relate to John Cecil Russell. He transferred to 12th Lancers as described above.

Russell was personal favourite of the then Prince of Wales, later King Edward VII.

His appointment over Dartnell caused a near mutiny amongst the Natal volunteer force.

The text from the British Empire site is somewhat confusing in my opinion.  His actions, or rather his inactions at Hlobane contributed little to withdrawal from the mountain.

The following day at Khambula would prove little better for him, here is paragraph from a piece I wrote some years ago:
Lieutenant-Colonel (Local Rank) John Cecil Russell of the 12th (Prince of Wales’ Royal) Lancers, commanding the 1st Squadron, Mounted Infantry, came in peril of falling into Zulu hands as he struggled to mount his rearing horse. Troop Sergeant Major Learda, a baSotho of the Natal Native Horse, quickly perceived the situation and rallied a few men to snatch Russell from the jaws of certain death. Lieutenant Edward S. Browne of the Mounted Infantry rode up and steadied Russell’s skittish horse so that he could remount. Before Russell could put his feet in the stirrups or take the reins, however, his horse bolted again, carrying him across the oncoming line of inGobamakhosi until Browne caught up and led Russell to safety. Browne was subsequently awarded the only Victoria Cross of the battle. Learda received the Distinguished Conduct Medal (DCM) for his action–if not for the prejudice of the Victorian army, he, too, might have been awarded the VC.

JY

Thanks John.