John Russell Savige

Infobox Military Person
name= John Russell Savige
lived=July 25 1908 – death date and age|1977|11|21|1908|7|25
placeofbirth= Moe, Victoria, Australia
placeofdeath= Moe, Victoria, Australia


caption= An Image of Russell Savige.
nickname=Russ
allegiance=Australian Imperial Force
serviceyears= 1939 – 1945
rank=Captain
unit=
World War II
*Battle of Greece
awards= Military Cross
Mention in Despatches (2)
family= Shirley Golder (spouse)
laterwork=leading figure, Scouts Australia
portrayedby=
enteredservice=
currentlyresides=

John Russell Savige MC, ED (25 July 1908 in Moe, Gippsland, Victoria, Australia- 21 November, 1977 in Moe, Victoria) was a leading figure in Scouting in Victoria. From 1939 to 1945 he served in World War II and was taken Prisoner of War in Crete.

Background

Savige's parents were Albert (Bert) Savige and his wife Alice Long. His grandfather John Savige arrived in Australia as a free settler in 1852 from Towcester, Northampton, England. In 1856 at Bendigo he married Emma Russell, a native of Wales. After fossicking for gold for several years, he proceeded to clear, farm and settle areas of Victoria such as Lake Condah in the Western District and Narracan and Moe in Gippsland. Savige was a first cousin of Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige.

World War II

Savige enlisted in the 2nd AIF and served in the 2/7th Battalion in the Middle East, rising to the rank of Captain and was awarded the Military Cross. He later served in Greece and finally Crete where he was taken prisoner.

Scouting

Savige joined Scouting in 1924. In 1933 he attended the 4th World Scout Jamboree in Hungary where he met Lord Baden-Powell. Savige became Assistant District Commissioner of the Strzelecki District and later, District Commissioner of the McDonald District. In 1972 the Chief Commissioner awarded him the Silver Acorn for exceptional services to Scouting. The Russ Savige Log Cabin, Camp Caringal, Erica was erected in memory of Savige, the plaque being unveiled by his widow, Shirley on 22 March, 1981.

References

Books

*cite book
last = Savige Walter E.
first = Titcher Margot.
authorlink =
year = 1996
chapter =
title = Savage Savige
publisher = Savige Family Publications
location = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
id = ISBN 0-9594-1914-4
*Russell, W.B. (1959), Chapter 4, pp 202, 233, There Goes a Man, Longmans (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia).

External links