John Russell Savige
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Moe, Victoria, Australia
Moe, Victoria, Australia
John Russell Savige | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Nickname(s) | Russ |
| Born | 25 July 1908 Moe, Victoria, Australia |
| Died | 21 November 1977 (aged 69) Moe, Victoria, Australia |
| Allegiance | Australian Imperial Force |
| Years of service | 1939 – 1945 |
| Rank | Captain |
| Unit | |
| Awards | Military Cross Mention in Despatches (2) |
| Spouse(s) | Shirley Golder |
| Relations | Lieutenant General Sir Stanley Savige |
| Other work | leading figure, Scouts Australia |
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.
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 as a captain in the 2/7th Battalion in North Africa, where he was awarded the Military Cross 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.