Phillip John Noel Russell was the son of Phillip and Mary Louiza Russell; husband of Olive Mary Russell, of North Hinksey, Oxfordshire. They married on 26 December 1940 at North Hinksey Church. He enlisted in the Ox and Bucks Light Infantry, and volunteered for airborne forces.

Pte Russell successfully completed glider training and was posted to 2nd (Airborne) Battalion, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, and took part in operation Overlord (Normandy).

Pte Russell was killed in action on 4 July 1944, age 30, and was given a field burial at Breville and was re-interred to Grave number IVA.M.11, Ranville War Cemetery, Calvados, France, on 5 July 1945.