On 28 February 1945, Lance-Corporal David Russell of the Second New Zealand Division, was executed at Ponte di Piave, Italy. Due to his bravery in the face of certain death, he was awarded the George Cross in 1948 - the first member of a New Zealand military force to do so.

Russell had fought in Greece and Crete before being captured in Egypt and transferred to Italy. He escaped in 1943, but instead of fleeing to safety via Yugoslavia Russell chose to stay 'underground' and assist other escaped prisoners.

As the record above notes, on 22 February 1945 Russell and his Italian harbourer Giuseppe Vettorello, was arrested by a patrol of Italian Fascist troops. Transferred to the Company Headquarters of the German forces, Russell was beaten, chained to a wall in a stable, and told that he would be shot unless he gave information about Vettorello and other ex-prisoners. Russell refused, and is said to have uttered the words 'Let them shoot me' when a civilian tried to persuade him to save his own life. A German officer who witnessed the execution noted that Russell "died very bravely!"

The letter above is from Russell's military personnel file. It belongs to a previously restricted series of Gallantry Medal Recipients at Archives New Zealand which have recently become open to the public.

Archives Reference: AAAL 18806 W478 Box 3 www.archway.archives.govt.nz/ViewFullItem.do?code=23523711

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Further information on David Russell can be found here: www.nzhistory.net.nz/page/kiwi-soldier-faces-nazi-firing-...