Russ Watson

{{for|the opera singer|Russell Watson}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}} {{Use Australian English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox AFL biography | name = Russ Watson | image = | fullname = Russell Henry Watson | birth_date = {{birth date|1892|12|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Moonee Ponds, Victoria | death_date = {{death date and age|1941|11|15|1892|12|26|df=y}} | death_place = East Melbourne, Victoria | originalteam = Melbourne Grammar School | height = | weight = | position = | statsend = 1910 | years1 = 1910 | club1 = {{AFL StK}} | games_goals1 = 2 (1) | careerhighlights = }} '''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),<ref name=encyc>{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 |last1=Holmesby|first1=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim |year=2014 |edition=10th |isbn=978-1-921496-32-5 |publisher=BAS Publishing |location=Seaford, Victoria |page=929}}</ref> and a District Cricketer with the St Kilda Cricket Club (where he also served as its Vice-President).<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224832502 Russell Watson Dead, ''The Weekly Times'', (Saturday, 22 November 1941), p.39.]</ref>

==Family== The son of Thomas Watson (1866-1925),<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/2128948 Deaths: Watson, ''The Argus'', (Monday, 22 June 1925), p.1]</ref> and Flora Henrietta Watson (1874-1950), née Dowell,<ref>[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.]</ref><ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/22832179 Deaths: Watson, ''The Argus'', (Tuesday, 30 May 1950), p.11.]</ref> Russell Henry Watson was born at Moonee Ponds on 26 December 1892.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/198025715 Births: Watson, ''The (Melbourne) Leader'', (Saturday, 14 January 1893), p.45.]</ref> He was the elder brother of Olympic and Empire Games athlete Alfred Joseph Watson (1907-1992).<ref>[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article25930393 Former Champion Runner Dead, ''The Mercury'', (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.7.]</ref> He married Freda Mildred Akhurst (1897-1979) on 20 August 1918.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/1412501 Marriages: Watson—Akhurst, ''The Argus'', (Saturday, 21 September 1918), p.13.]</ref> He died in East Melbourne on 15 November 1941.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209811792 Deaths: Watson, ''The Age'', (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.1]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/209816162 Mr. R. H. Watson, ''The Age'', (Tuesday, 18 November 1941), p.6.]</ref>

==Athlete== "One of the greatest all-round athletes Australia has ever produced",<ref>[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.]</ref> Watson held titles in the mile, half-mile, and 440 hurdles.<ref>[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242228172 'Whip', "All-Round Athlete: Russell H. Watson", ''The (Melbourne) Herald'', (Monday, 5 June 1911), p.2]; [https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/242631951 Noted Runner Recalled: Russell Watson's Feats, ''The (Melbourne) Herald'', (Saturday, 31 December 1921), p.5.]</ref>

==Military service== He served in the Firat AIF in the 6th Australian Field Ambulance.<ref>[https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/awm-media/collection/RCDIG1068942/large/5364210.JPG World War One Nominal Roll: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).]</ref><ref>[https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/NAAMedia/ViewPDF.aspx?B=1915139&D=D World War One Service Record: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).]</ref>

== Notes == {{reflist}}

== External links == *{{AFL Tables|ref=R/Russ_Watson.html}} *{{AustralianFootball|ref=russ%2Bwatson/2743}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Russ}} Category:1892 births Category:1941 deaths Category:Australian rules footballers from Melbourne Category:St Kilda Football Club players Category:People educated at Melbourne Grammar School Category:People from Moonee Ponds, Victoria Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen