Pte. Antonio Russello

Despite multiple wounds and the hardships of war, Private Antonio Russello continued serving Canada through the end of the First World War.

The First World War

The Canadian Expeditionary Force, 31st Battalion

Private Antonio Russello was born in Kaggi (as recorded in service file), likely Caggi, Messina, Italy, on May 12, 1886. He enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force at Calgary on January 5, 1916. His next of kin was listed as his mother, Gaetana Russello, residing in Italy. His occupation was recorded as labourer and his religion as Roman Catholic.

After completing initial training, Antonio sailed from Halifax in May 1916, arriving in Liverpool on May 30, 1916. He was transferred to the 9th Battalion on July 14, 1916 for reinforcement and later drafted to the 31st Battalion.

Private Russello suffered three recorded casualties. The first, on October 13, 1916, was shell shock, after which he returned to duty on January 19, 1917. The second occurred on March 31, 1917, when he suffered a gunshot wound to the left leg. The third, verified by the Princess Patricia Canadian Red Cross Hospital card, occurred near Amiens on August 10, 1918, when he sustained gunshot wounds to both thighs.

He was admitted to King’s College Hospital on September 4, 1918, discharged to C.C.C. Bexhill on September 27, 1918, and later transferred to a convalescent depot. He was eventually returned to duty.

Private Russello remained with the Canadian Expeditionary Force through the end of the war. He departed Liverpool for Canada on January 20, 1919, arriving in Halifax, and was discharged in Calgary on February 7, 1919. His service file confirms entitlement to the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.

Sources

• Library and Archives Canada. Personnel Records of the First World War, RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 8564 - 22

Researched and compiled by Luigi Audia