The following is an archived discussion of the DYK nomination of the article below. Please do not modify this page. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page (such as this nomination's talk page, the article's talk page or Wikipedia talk:Did you know), unless there is consensus to re-open the discussion at this page. No further edits should be made to this page.

The result was: promoted by Bruxton (talk) 15:14, 14 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Russell in 1874

• ... that during the 29 March 1879 Battle of Kambula John Cecil Russell (pictured) was saved from the Zulu by his subordinate, Edward Stevenson Browne, who received the Victoria Cross for his efforts? Source: "Lieutenant Browne of the 24th Regiment went to Russell's aid; all had a miraculous escape and reached the camp ... Browne was later awarded the Victoria Cross, the only VC of the day" from page 283 of: Greaves, Adrian (2005). Crossing the Buffalo: The Zulu War of 1879. London: Cassell. ISBN 978-0-3043-6725-2.
  • ALT1: ... that Lieutenant-Colonel John Cecil Russell (pictured) was accused of cowardice for his actions in the 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane? Source: "Edward Browne approached Colonel Wood and handed him a personel letter in which he denounced Russell, his immediate superior, for cowardice over the Hlobane incident" from page 188 of: Snook, Mike (2010a). Like Wolves on the Fold : the Defence of Rorke's Drift. London: Frontline Books. ISBN 978-1-84832-602-6.
  • ALT2: ... that on 29 March 1879 Edward Stevenson Browne was awarded the Victoria Cross for saving the life of his commanding officer John Cecil Russell (pictured), whom he considered a coward? Source: Combination of the two hooks above
  • Reviewed: Template:Did you know nominations/Still Life: An Allegory of the Vanities of Human Life
  • Comment: Would be nice to have as a special occasion hook on either 28 or 29 March depending on which hook is chosen, to mark the anniversary

Moved to mainspace by Dumelow (talk). Self-nominated at 12:50, 10 March 2023 (UTC). Post-promotion hook changes for this nom will be logged at Template talk:Did you know nominations/John Cecil Russell; consider watching this nomination, if it is successful, until the hook appears on the Main Page.[reply]

Hook eligibility:

• Cited:
• Interesting:
• Other problems: - Just an issue

Overall: @Dumelow: Good article. Though just a concern, but these hooks don't really focus on Russell that much. Alt1 is alright but alt0 and alt2 seem like they focus more on Browne than Russell. Maybe i'm reaching too far but I wonder if it's a problem. Onegreatjoke (talk) 20:00, 11 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Hi Onegreatjoke, I had thought the incident with Browne the most interesting aspect but I guess perhaps they focus too much on him. Here are some more Russell-focussed hooks:

• ALT3: ... that after being accused of cowardice at the 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, Lieutenant-Colonel John Cecil Russell (pictured) was placed in command of a remount depot - Dumelow (talk) 09:13, 12 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]
• ALT4: ... that despite never having led cavalry in battle John Cecil Russell (pictured) received command of the mounted contingent with the principal British force in the Zulu War through his social connections?
• ALT5: ... that the appointment of British officer John Cecil Russell (pictured) to command Colony of Natal forces in the 1879 Anglo-Zulu War sparked mass resignations in the Natal Mounted Police?
• ALT6: ... that despite being accused of cowardice at the 28 March 1879 Battle of Hlobane, John Cecil Russell (pictured) rose to become a major-general?

Let me know if these are any good - Dumelow (talk) 09:13, 12 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Much better. Onegreatjoke (talk) 20:34, 13 March 2023 (UTC)[reply]