Thomas Russell
Special Constable

Thomas Russell

Felonious
End of Watch June 17, 1922
The Vigil Panel 212 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Fatally shot when his patrol was ambushed at night by IRA gunmen.

Fatally shot when his fourteen-man patrol from Forkhill was ambushed at night by approximately 50 terrorist gunmen in Drumintee, County Armagh.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
BO-GB-USC-139F07B3
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
April 8, 2026
Last updated
July 23, 2026

Honored here by 1 sentinel - 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Constable Russell served with the Ulster Special Constabulary.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Constable Russell.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Location NIR
Platform Identity usco.bfs.nir.gb.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch June 17, 1922
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Homicide - Shot

Special Constable Thomas Russell is one of 17,623 officers killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty across the full record of this memorial — 54.2% of all 32,508 officers honored here.

In NIR, 422 of 599 officers were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 70.5% of this state's fallen. That is 16.3 percentage points above the national rate of 54.2%.

At Ulster Special Constabulary, 56 of 99 officers on record were killed feloniously — deliberately targeted and murdered in the line of duty — 56.6% of this agency's fallen.

Ulster Special Constabulary
56
of 99 officers
56.6% Felonious
NIR — Statewide
422
of 599 officers
70.5% Felonious
Nationwide
17,623
of 32,508 officers
54.2% Felonious

National Cause Distribution

How Felonious compares to all causes of officer death in the memorial record. Thomas Russell's cause is highlighted.

Felonious
17,623 (54.2%)
Accident
10,088 (31%)
Illness
2,974 (9.1%)
Cardiac
1,306 (4%)
Undetermined
260 (0.8%)
Suicide
256 (0.8%)
vehicular
1 (0%)

How Thomas Russell Compares

When Felonious Deaths Occur

Monthly distribution of Felonious deaths across the full memorial record. Thomas Russell is highlighted in Jun.

Jan
1,392
Feb
1,295
Mar
1,373
Apr
1,517
May
1,505
Jun
1,443
Jul
1,587
Aug
1,516
Sep
1,553
Oct
1,371
Nov
1,447
Dec
1,624

Weapons Used Against Officers

Most common weapons in felonious officer deaths.

Gun; Unknown type
5,083
Handgun
2,077
Shotgun
922
Officer's handgun
909
Automobile; Alcohol involved
530
Rifle
518