Colonel Russell Richard Thomas Young, DSO (25 June 1902 – 1990) was a New Zealand Davis Cup player, army officer, and corporate executive.
[2] In 1927, as a member (and later captain) of the Cambridge University Lawn Tennis Club, Young undertook a sporting tour of Germany, with teammates including future Wimbledon finalist Bunny Austin, and the comedian Kenneth Horne.
[citation needed] Young was commissioned in the New Zealand Military Forces, and fought in North Africa and Italy.
[6] The commander of the New Zealand Division, Major General Howard Kippenberger recalled in his memoirs that: It looked like becoming a habit for our senior officers to get captured, escape, and have breakfast with me.
During the Italian Campaign, Young was awarded a Distinguished Service Order by Lieutenant General Sir Bernard Freyberg for his conduct during the Battle of Monte Cassino.
[8] During the Rimini assault, Young recorded in his diary: At night the Maoris would hold song singing gatherings, and limited quantities of vino would help liven matters up a little.