Mr Douglas Russell

Press, 15 May 1987, Page 25

Mr Douglas Russell

One of New Zealand’s longest-practising barristers and solicitors, Mr Douglas Warren Russell, has died in Auckland. He was 93. Mr Russell was bom in Christchurch and educated at Christchurch Boys’ High School. He joined the staff of the Bank of New Zealand in 1911. In 1915 during World War I he enlisted and served overseas with the Otago Infantry Regiment until being invalided home in 1918. He rejoined the bank and later transferred to Auckland, where he

studied law, qualifying in 1924 as a barrister and solicitor. He left the bank to become associate to Mr Justice A. S. Adams in Christchurch. Mr Russell entered a Christchurch legal firm before beginning practice on his own in 1934. He was involved for many years in the Christchurch Returned Services’ Association, the Disabled Servicemen’s Re-estab-lishment League (Christchurch branch), and the Tin Hat Club, serving as president of all three organisations at different stages.

During World War 11, Mr Russell was a prime mover in organising the Overseas Soldiers Wives and Mothers’ Club, which entertained about 1200 wives and mothers of servicemen. He also served as an officer of the Air Training Corps. He was created an officer of the Order of the British Empire in the King’s Birthday honours of 1950. Mr Russell and Mrs Russell moved to Auckland afer his retirement in 1968 to live near their son, Mr Peter Russell.

Mr Russell is survived by his son.