Wests Archive would like to thank John Russell, Jack’s son, for generously contributing additional information in the preparation of his father’s profile.
John “Jack” Russell was born at Manly, NSW in 1919. He moved with his family to the NSW South Coast town of Helensburgh when he was an infant. His father died at Helensburgh when John was less than two years of age.
His elder siblings played rugby league in the district, and John followed their footsteps. He also played soccer for a short period when he was an adolescent.
He first came to prominence just prior to the start of the Second World War, and like many of his contemporaries, military duties and rugby league became intertwined.
