Walter John Russell (SN 106) was born in Hobart and was a 21 year old piano maker when he enlisted with his brother James in Melbourne on August 19th 1914. He embarked aboard the Karroo on October 20th , allotted to the 1st Division Signals Company, and sailed to Egypt. In January 1916 he was hospitalised in Cairo, once due to sore legs then again due to mumps. His service from then was largely incident free, although in March 1916 he was charged with being absent without leave for just 90 minutes. Like his brother, he was granted ‘1914 leave’ and returned to Australia on the Durham, disembarking at Melbourne on December 23rd 1918. He was discharged on February 21st 1918.

His brother James also served in the AIF and is honoured with a tree in the Avenue.