Dudley Russell - Early Career

Early Career

Russell received a temporary commission in 1914 and in 1915 joined the 7th battalion of the Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) with whom he served during World War I. In October 1917 he transferred to the British Indian Army and in November was commissioned as a lieutenant into the 97th Deccan Infantry serving in Egypt. In March 1919, as an acting captain he was awarded the MC, the citation for which read

In the attack on the Tabsor system of trenches on the 19th September, 1918, he displayed conspicuous gallantry and leadership. His personal example of coolness, the marked skill with which he led his company under very heavy artillery and machine-gun fire, and his initiative in locating the objective, enabled the two attacking companies to capture the position with promptness and very few casualties

Russell's promotion to substantive captain did not come until 1923 but was antedated to June 1919.

In the 1922 reorganisation of the Indian Army his regiment became the 3rd battalion 19th Hyderabad Regiment. During the period between the World Wars he attended the Staff College at Quetta. In 1935 he transferred to the 6th Royal (Scinde) battalion 13th Frontier Force Rifles. In 1936 he qualified as a higher standard interpreter in Pashto which resulted in his widely-used nickname of The Pasha. He was promoted lieutenant-colonel in April 1938 and commanded the 6th battalion from 1938 to 1940.

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