Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo¹

• Birth*: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo was born on 15 May 1913 at 17 Leximount Avenue, Trinity, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, ; 1913 births in the district of North Leith in the County of Edinburgh, ref 332; Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell, born 1913 May Fifteenth 3h 55m pm at 17 Lixmount Avenue, Trinity, Leith; male, parents Joseph William James Russell cashier & Lucy Lorraine Russell ms Brooke who married 1905 July 10th Blackpool; signed Joseph W J Russell father; registered 1913 June 3rd at Leith signed H?C Greenshields registrar.¹
• (Groom) Marriage*: He married Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo, daughter of Robert Fisher McKenzie Conway dentist & baptist minister and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Miller Morrison, on 21 May 1940 at Belgian Congo, ; By Air to Get Married
  To Do Missionary Work in Congo
  After a four days' trip by air from London to West Central Africa, Dr Ruth Conway, graduate of St Andrews University and daughter of Rev. R. E. and Mrs Conway, Hamilton, has been married to Dr Alfred Russell, Edinburgh.
  Dr Conway belongs to Dundee and began her education at Harris Academy. Her father practised as a dentist in the city for many years before entering the Baptist ministry.
  His brother followed the same change of profession.
  On her mother's side, Dr Conway is a grand-daughter of the late Mr Richard Morrison, a well-known antique dealer in Dundee.
  Dr Russell is in charge of the Tremout Hospital, Ntondo, Belgian Congo, and went there shortly after the outbreak of war.
  It was the delay in travelling by boat prompted Dr Conway to go by air for the wedding. The route lay over the Mountains and the Sahara. She was permitted to take only her trousseau, and had to leave behind the wedding cake specially made by her brother-in-law. Mr. William Dennison, Birmingham.
  Her bridesmaid, Nurse Brown, with whom she took her tropical medicines course at Liverpool, was held up on the sea voyage, and her place at the wedding ceremony
  was taken by the six-year-old daughter of a missionary.
  After a honeymoon at Sona Bata the couple will proceed to their station in the heart of the Congo by canoe. The compound where they will carry on their medical missionary work is two days journey from any other village.
  They met as students in an inter-university conference in London.²
• (Deceased) Death*: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo died on 28 November 1972 at Walsall, Stafordshire, England, , at age 59 First name(s)     ALFRED JOSEPH B
  Last name     RUSSELL
  Gender     Male
  Birth day     15
  Birth month     5
  Birth year     1913
  Age     -
  Death quarter     4
  Death year     1972
  District     Walsall
  County     Staffordshire
  Volume     9B
  Page     1878
  Country     England
  Record set     England & Wales Deaths 1837-2007
  Category     Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
  Subcategory     Civil Deaths & Burials
  Collections from     Great Britain, England.^3,4
• Probate*: His estate was probated on 9 April 1973 at Penrhos, The Manor, Willenhall, Stafordshire, England, ; First name(s)     Alfred Joseph Brooke
  Last name     Russell
  Death year     1972
  Death date     29 Nov 1972
  Probate year     1973
  Probate date     09 Apr 1973
  Residence town     Willenhall
  Registry     London
  County     Staffordshire
  Country     England
  Record set     England & Wales Government Probate Death Index 1858-2019
  Category     Birth, Marriage, Death & Parish Records
  Subcategory     Civil Deaths & Burials
  Collections from     Great Britain, England
  
  Estate £31500.⁴

• Occupation*: Alfred was Medical Missionary in Belgian Congo.
• Newspaper Article*: He was mentioned in a newspaper article BAPTIST CH., Hope St., South Leith.
  (Spurgeon Memorial Temple.)
  Rev. JOHN M'KENDRICK, Pastor.
  11 a.m.-Dr ALFRED J. B. RUSSELL Missionary-Designate for the Congo. Communion, 6.30 p.m. " The Mystery of Iniquity." Duets by Miss M. Forsyth and Mr Gordon Borthwick. Retiring Collections for Edinburgh Baptist Association Funds. on 11 February 1939 at Baptist Church, Hope Street, South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, .⁵
• Newspaper Article: He was mentioned in a newspaper article BAPTIST CH. Hope St.. South Leith
  (Spurgeon Memorial Temple).
  Valedictory Services for Dr ALFRED J. B. RUSSELL appointed to Congo.
  11 a.m.-Service and Communion,
  Rev. JOHN M'KENDRICK, Pastor.
  6 p.m.-Farewell Address : Dr RUSSELL
  Social unavoidably Cancelled. Dr Russel leaves city Sunday Night. on 16 September 1939 at Baptist Church, Hope Street, South Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland, .⁶
• Newspaper Article*: He and Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article For The Congo
  Dundee people and members of Rattray Street Baptist Church in particular, will be interested to learn that valedictory services are being held to-morrow for Dr Ruth F. Conway, missionary designate to Tondo, Belgian Congo. The services are taking place in her father's church in Hamilton.
  Dr Conway belongs to a well-known Dundee family. Born in Dundee, she was educated at the Harris Acaderns and later at St George's, Edinburgh. She studied medicine at St Andrews University and took her tropical course at Liverpool.
  Dr Conway's father, Rev. R. F. Conway, practised as a dentist in Dundee for many years before entering the Baptist ministry. His brother followed the same change of profession. On her mother's side Dr Ruth Conway is a grand-daughter of the late Mr Richard Morrison, a well known antique dealer in Dundee.
  While in Dundee the family worshipped at Rattray Street Baptist Church and took a big part in mission work. Dr Conway, in fact, began her religious life in this church and her time is the first registered on the church's cradle roll for young children.
  The valedictory services, which are to be held in the forenoon, afternoon and evening will be conducted by Dr J. Tennent. Dr H. Fraser, and Rev. R, F. and Dr Ruth Conway.
  A farewell social is taking place the following evening when the speakers will be Dr John Macbeath, Rev. James Watson Rev. T. W. Lister and Dr Ruth Conway.
  Dr Conway is leaving early this month. She will join her fiance, Dr Alfred J. B. Russell, also a Baptist missionary, in this work abroad. Their wedding will take place soon after her arrival. on 6 April 1940 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .⁷
• Newspaper Article: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo and Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Doctor's Four Day Flight To Wed
  Dr Ruth Conway, daughter of Rev. R. F. Conway and Mrs Conway, Baptist Church, Hamilton, and formerly of St Andrews, travelled four days by air from London to West Central Africa to be married to Dr Alfred J. B. Russell, who left this country shortly after the outbreak of war to take up an appointment at Tremont Hospital, Ntondo, in the Belgian Congo.
  They met as students at an Inter-Varsity Fellowship house party in London, and both decided to enter the mission field as doctor missionaries.
  Miss Conway was to have travelled by boat, but the war situation caused her to change her plans.
  Her trousseau was all she was able to take with her. Her wedding cake, specially made by her brother-in-law Mr William Dennison, Birmingham, will go by boat along with trunks packed with wedding presents.
  Nurse Brown, who took her tropical medicines course at Liverpool with the bride, and was appointed to another missionary station in Belgian Congo, was to have been bridesmaid, but her arrival by boat was delayed. The six-year-old daughter of Dr Tuttle, Sona Bata, took her place.
  Dr and Mrs Russell will reach their station in a remote part of the Congo after a two days' trip by canoe up the Congo. on 22 May 1940 at Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .^8,9
• Newspaper Article: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo and Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article St Andrews Lady's Wedding Gifts Seized by Germans.
  The fall of Belgium has meant a serious loss of wedding presents and valuable medical supplies to a former St Andrews lady and her husband, Dr A. J. B. Russell, a West of Scotland man. Mrs Russell is a daughter of the Rev. R. F. Conway, a former minister of St Andrews Baptist Church, and is a medical graduate of St Andrews University. She was best known here as Dr Ruth Conway.
  She was married to Dr Russell at Leopoldville, and they are medical missionaries at Ntondo, in the heart of the Belgian Congo. When Dr. Conway travelled by air from this country to the Congo, she left behind her her wedding gifts, numbering several hundreds, her clothes, valuable medical instruments and a large quantity of tinned food difficult to obtain in the jungle where they are stationed.
  Dr Conway was permitted to take only her trousseau with her, and arrangements were made for the cases being sent later by sea, but after the surrender of Belgium, Dr and Mrs Russell were informed by the Shipping Company that all their cases had been confiscated by the Germans at Antwerp, while waiting an opportunity to be sent further on thair journey. The value of the goods runs into several hundred pounds, but despite their loss, Dr and Mrs Russell are to carry on their beneficent work of healing the sick in that remote part of the Congo. on 20 July 1940 at Leopoldville, Belgian Congo, .¹⁰
• Newspaper Article: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo and Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Broughty Ferry Baptist Church Women's Own held a welcome social for Drs Alfred and Ruth Russell, missionaries from the Congo, in the church hall, yesterday. They were presented with gifts. Rev. R. F. Conway, father of Ruth Russell, presided on 27 March 1946 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .^11,12
• Newspaper Article: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo was mentioned in a newspaper article Dublin Street Baptist Church
  11 am - DR Alfred Russell
  Baptist Medical Mission, Congo
  6.30 pm - Rev WM Manson MA on 23 November 1946 at Dublin St Baptist Church, Edinburgh, Scotland, .¹³
• Newspaper Article: He was mentioned in a newspaper article BAPTIST CHURCH.
  11.30 a.m.-B.M.S. Deputy, Dr. Alfred J. B. Russell, Congo. 6.30 p.m.- Rev. Alexander Clark: "The Seven Words"-Forsaken? Monday, 17.30–Men's Social Fellowship: Dr. James Tennant, Glasgow: "The Prevention of Blindness." Tuesday, 7.30-W.A. Mrs Giffen, Airdrie. Wednesday, 7.30-Mid-Week Service: 2nd Samuel. Saturday at Seven - Renfrew Male Voice Choir. on 28 February 1947 at Motherwell, Scotland, .¹⁴
• Newspaper Article: He and Ruth Agnes Fisher Conway medical missionary Congo were mentioned in a newspaper article Broughty Ferry Baptist Church
  11am - Rev R F Conway - 6.30pm
  Following Week-End - Valedictory Services
  Drs Alfred and Ruth Russell, Congo on 15 March 1947 at Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .¹⁵

Notes

• Note for Web*: Alfred Joseph Brooke Russell medical missionary Congo
  
  Record creator
  
  Russell, Alfred Joseph B. (1913-1972), Baptist missionary
  
  Catalogue description glass lantern slides from Ntono region of Belgian Congo.
  This record is held by Oxford University: Regent's Park College, Angus Library and Archive
  
  Reference:      BMS Acc. 316
  Description:      glass lantern slides from Ntono region of Belgian Congo.
  Date:      c1939-1947
  Held by:      Oxford University: Regent's Park College, Angus Library and Archive, not available at The National Archives between 1939 and 1947 at Belgian Congo, .¹⁶