John Russell Savige
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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
.
at Bardia
and was twice mentioned in despatches. From Libya the battalion was ordered to Greece and then to Crete where he was taken prisoner by the Germans.
in 1924. In 1933 he attended the 4th World Scout Jamboree
in Hungary
where he met Lord Baden-Powell
. After the war, 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.
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, ED
Efficiency Decoration
The Efficiency Decoration is a defunct medal of Britain and the Commonwealth awarded for long service in the Territorial Army of the UK, the Indian Volunteer Forces and Colonial Auxiliary Forces....
(25 July 1908 in Moe
Moe, Victoria
Moe is a city in the Latrobe Valley and Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is about east of Melbourne and at the 2006 census had a population of 15,582 . It is administered by the City of Latrobe council....
, Gippsland
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
, Victoria, Australia- 21 November 1977 in Moe, Victoria) was a leading figure in Scouting in Victoria
Scouting in Victoria
Scouting and Guiding in Victoria, a State of Australia, is predominantly represented by the state branch of Scouts Australia and Girl Guides Victoria, a member of Girl Guides Australia.-Scouts Australia - Victorian Branch:...
. From 1939 to 1945 he served in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was taken Prisoner of War
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
in Crete
Crete
Crete is the largest and most populous of the Greek islands, the fifth largest island in the Mediterranean Sea, and one of the thirteen administrative regions of Greece. It forms a significant part of the economy and cultural heritage of Greece while retaining its own local cultural traits...
.
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 TowcesterTowcester
Towcester , the Roman town of Lactodorum, is a small town in south Northamptonshire, England.-Etymology:Towcester comes from the Old English Tófe-ceaster. Tófe refers to the River Tove; Bosworth and Toller compare it to the "Scandinavian proper names" Tófi and Tófa...
, Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
, 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
Shire of Narracan
The Shire of Narracan was a Local Government Area located about east-southeast of Melbourne, the state capital of Victoria, Australia. The shire covered an area of , and existed from 1878 until 1994.-History:...
and Moe in Gippsland
Gippsland
Gippsland is a large rural region in Victoria, Australia. It begins immediately east of the suburbs of Melbourne and stretches to the New South Wales border, lying between the Great Dividing Range to the north and Bass Strait to the south...
. Savige was a first cousin
Cousin
In kinship terminology, a cousin is a relative with whom one shares one or more common ancestors. The term is rarely used when referring to a relative in one's immediate family where there is a more specific term . The term "blood relative" can be used synonymously and establishes the existence of...
of Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige
Stanley Savige
Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige, KBE, CB, DSO, MC, ED , was an Australian Army soldier and officer who served in World War I and World War II, rising to the rank of lieutenant general....
.
World War II
Savige enlisted in the 2nd AIF and served as a Captain in the 2/7th Battalion in North Africa where he was awarded the Military CrossMilitary Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
at Bardia
Bardia
Bardia is a geographic region in the Democratic Republic of Nepal.Bardia comprises a portion of the Terai, or lowland hills and valleys of southern Nepal. The Terai is over 1,000 feet in elevation, and extends all along the Indian border...
and was twice mentioned in despatches. From Libya the battalion was ordered to Greece and then to Crete where he was taken prisoner by the Germans.
After the War
After his discharge from the army, Savige had to rebuild the family farm in Moe and became involved in many community organizations including the Anglican Church, Legacy, Rotary, Moe High School Council and the Moe Co-operative Dairying Co. (Chairman of the Board). From Germany he was nominated and accepted as a member of the Melbourne Cricket Club.Scouting
Savige joined ScoutingScouting
Scouting, also known as the Scout Movement, is a worldwide youth movement with the stated aim of supporting young people in their physical, mental and spiritual development, that they may play constructive roles in society....
in 1924. In 1933 he attended the 4th World Scout Jamboree
4th World Scout Jamboree
The 4th World Scout Jamboree, a gathering of Boy Scouts from all over the world, was hosted by Hungary and held from August 2 to August 13, 1933. It was attended by 25,792 Scouts, representing 46 different nations and additional territories...
in Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
where he met Lord Baden-Powell
Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell
Robert Stephenson Smyth Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell, Bt, OM, GCMG, GCVO, KCB , also known as B-P or Lord Baden-Powell, was a lieutenant-general in the British Army, writer, and founder of the Scout Movement....
. After the war, 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.
Books
- Russell, W.B. (1959), Chapter 4, pp 202, 233, There Goes a Man, Longmans (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia).