Russ Watson Explained

Russ Watson
Fullname:	Russell Henry Watson
Birth Date:	26 December 1892
Birth Place:	Moonee Ponds, Victoria
Death Place:	East Melbourne, Victoria
Originalteam:	Melbourne Grammar School
Statsend:	1910
Years1:	1910
Games Goals1:	2 (1)

Russell Henry Watson (26 December 1892 – 15 November 1941) was an Australian amateur middle distance champion, an Australian rules footballer, who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL),^[1] and a District Cricketer with the St Kilda Cricket Club (where he also served as its Vice-President).^[2]

Family

The son of Thomas Watson (1866-1925),^[3] and Flora Henrietta Watson (1874-1950), née Dowell,^{[4] [5]} Russell Henry Watson was born at Moonee Ponds on 26 December 1892.^[6] He was the elder brother of Olympic and Empire Games athlete Alfred Joseph Watson (1907-1992).^[7] He married Freda Mildred Akhurst (1897-1979) on 20 August 1918.^[8] He died in East Melbourne on 15 November 1941.^[9]

Athlete

"One of the greatest all-round athletes Australia has ever produced",^[10] Watson held titles in the mile, half-mile, and 440 hurdles.^[11]

Military service

He served in the Firat AIF in the 6th Australian Field Ambulance.^{[12] [13]}

Notes and References

1. Book: The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 . Holmesby. Russell. Main. Jim . 2014 . 10th . 978-1-921496-32-5 . BAS Publishing . Seaford, Victoria . 929.
2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224832502 Russell Watson Dead, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 22 November 1941), p.39.
3. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2128948 Deaths: Watson, The Argus, (Monday, 22 June 1925), p.1
4. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/155662732 A Hide and Skin Trader's Estate: Family Contract to Carry On, The Age, (Wednesday, 9 December 1925), p.17.
5. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22832179 Deaths: Watson, The Argus, (Tuesday, 30 May 1950), p.11.
6. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198025715 Births: Watson, The (Melbourne) Leader, (Saturday, 14 January 1893), p.45.
7. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25930393 Former Champion Runner Dead, The Mercury, (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.7.
8. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1412501 Marriages: Watson—Akhurst, The Argus, (Saturday, 21 September 1918), p.13.
9. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209811792 Deaths: Watson, The Age, (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.1
10. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/181717691 Russell Watson was Star Half-Miler: All-Round Sportsman, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 19 November 1941), p.11.
11. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242228172 'Whip', "All-Round Athlete: Russell H. Watson", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 5 June 1911), p.2
12. https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068942/large/5364210.JPG World War One Nominal Roll: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).
13. https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=1915139&D=D World War One Service Record: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).