Russ Watson

{{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),{{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}} and a District Cricketer with the St Kilda Cricket Club (where he also served as its Vice-President).[https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/224832502 Russell Watson Dead, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 22 November 1941), p.39.]

Family

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

Athlete

"One of the greatest all-round athletes Australia has ever produced",[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.] Watson held titles in the mile, half-mile, and 440 hurdles.[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.]

Military service

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

Notes

External links

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

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