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), and a District Cricketer with the St Kilda Cricket Club (where he also served as its Vice-President).Russell Watson Dead, The Weekly Times, (Saturday, 22 November 1941), p.39.
Family The son of Thomas Watson (1866-1925),Deaths: Watson, The Argus, (Monday, 22 June 1925), p.1 and Flora Henrietta Watson (1874-1950), née Dowell,A Hide and Skin Trader's Estate: Family Contract to Carry On, The Age, (Wednesday, 9 December 1925), p.17.Deaths: Watson, The Argus, (Tuesday, 30 May 1950), p.11. Russell Henry Watson was born at Moonee Ponds on 26 December 1892.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).Former Champion Runner Dead, The Mercury, (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.7. He married Freda Mildred Akhurst (1897-1979) on 20 August 1918.Marriages: Watson—Akhurst, The Argus, (Saturday, 21 September 1918), p.13. He died in East Melbourne on 15 November 1941.Deaths: Watson, The Age, (Monday, 17 November 1941), p.1; Mr. R. H. Watson, The Age, (Tuesday, 18 November 1941), p.6.
Athlete "One of the greatest all-round athletes Australia has ever produced",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.'Whip', "All-Round Athlete: Russell H. Watson", The (Melbourne) Herald, (Monday, 5 June 1911), p.2; 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.World War One Nominal Roll: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).World War One Service Record: Private Russell Henry Watson (3239).
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