Russell Gurney (British Army officer)

Born in 1890, Russell Gurney was the son of a clergyman and was educated at Clifton College. He volunteered for the British Army during the First World War and was commissioned into the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1915, with which he saw service in France and, later, Italy.[1]

Gurney remained in the army during the interwar period and attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1921 to 1922.[1] He was married in 1928 and, in 1935, he wrote a history of his regiment, before transferring to the Suffolk Regiment and assuming command of the 1st Battalion of his new regiment in 1937. The following year he became commandant of the Small Arms School at Netheravon, Wiltshire.[1]

Gurney served in this capacity until early October 1939, a few weeks after the outbreak of the Second World War, when he assumed command of the 17th Infantry Brigade.[1] He was not there long, however, as he was declared medically unfit until, in 1940, he was posted to the War Office as a General Staff Officer Grade 1. He was to remain in this post until the following year, when he was made Senior Umpire with Home Forces, before again returning to the War Office, this time serving on Special Employment. On 23 February 1943 he was promoted to the acting rank of major general as he was made Director of Personnel Services at the War Office.[2] He held this position until 1947, the year he retired from the army, after 33 years of service. Russell died, after a short illness, in his home in Devon, at the age of 57.[1]

• Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.

• Generals of World War II