Derek Frank Russell

Derek Frank Russell died from bronchitis after being kidnapped from outside the offices of the Nottingham Co-operative Society.

Derek Russell had been left in his perambulator outside the Co-operative Society's premises in Wollaton Street on Friday 28 January 1944 but was taken around noon. A police search was made and he was found about three hours later when he was mysteriously returned.

He was found by the police three hours later in Wollaton Street some little distance from where he had been left and was taken to Nottingham Children's Hospital as a precautionary measure for examination.

However, he later died at Nottingham Children's Hospital from bronchitis on 1 February 1944.

He had lived with his mother at 19 Cathcart Street in Nottingham.

His mother had taken him with her in his perambulator to the offices at about 11.30am on Friday 28 January 1944 and had left him outside whilst she went in. She said that when she returned about ten minutes later Derek Russell was still there sleeping peacefully. However, she said that a few minutes later the perambulator and Derek Russell vanished.

Derek Russell's mother became greatly distressed and after a rapid search of the immediate area she notified the police.

After Derek Russell's mother found Derek Russell missing the Society’s management sent for the police and a search was organised and shortly before 3pm the assistant managing secretary of the society had his attention drawn to a child in a pram and Derek Russell's mother then identified him as being her child.

Derek Russell's mother said that she had intended to take Derek Russell to the hospital on the Friday morning, but had had to vary her programme owing to the necessity of registering to obtain coal. She said that it was whilst she was engaged in that matter that the pram disappeared.