Rusty Page

James Russell "Rusty" Page (10 May 1908 – 22 May 1985) was a New Zealand army officer, and rugby union player and administrator.

Early life and family Born in Dunedin in 1908, Page was the son of John and Helen Stuart Page (née Caradus). From 1922 to 1926 he was educated at Southland Boys' High School, where he was junior athletics, shooting and tennis champion in 1922. In 1926 he was captain of the school's 1st XV rugby team, head prefect and senior athletics champion. The recipient of a New Zealand military scholarship, Page undertook army officer training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst from 1927 to 1928. and the couple married at West Wickham in south-west London in July that year.

Rugby union Primarily a first five-eighth, Page played for London Scottish while at Sandhurst. He was a reserve for Scotland in one match, but did not take the field. Returning to New Zealand in 1930, Page represented Wellington at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1931 to 1935. He played 18 matches for the All Blacks—three of which were as captain—including six internationals.

Military career Page was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the New Zealand Staff Corps in August 1928. He served as adjutant at Fort Dorset on the Miramar Peninsula in 1935,

In recognition of his gallant and distinguished service in the Middle East, and in particular in November 1941 at Sidi Rezegh where he was wounded, Page was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in March 1942. His investiture by the Governor-General, Lord Newall, took place at a ceremony at Wellington Town Hall on 2 August 1944. Part of his citation read:On the night 26/27 November the Battalion undertook another night advance against the strongly held enemy positions on the escarpment. There was a very large number of machine and anti-tank guns in the enemy position and both class of weapons were used with deadly effect against our troops. The nature of the attack and the time at which it was launched precluded any opportunity of supporting it by Artillery and machine-gun fire. The enemy gunners remained in action at their posts until our infantry had advanced literally right up to the muzzles of the guns and the battle was certainly the fiercest that this Brigade has ever experienced. Lieutenant Colonel Page was in the forefront of the attack and in the course of it he was very severely wounded. His magnificent courage and leadership were the outstanding factors which contributed to the great success which was achieved. Throughout all these operations Lieutenant Colonel Page was an inspiration to all his troops and to the whole Brigade Group. In every action he was everywhere on the battlefield. His cheerfulness under very trying circumstances, his utter disregard of danger, his indomitable determination to win and the skill with which he disposed of his forces were over and over again responsible for the very fine achievements of the battalion he commanded.

Page was appointed quartermaster-general in 1956 and New Zealand joint services liaison in Canberra in 1960. He retired from the army with the rank of brigadier in 1963. He died in Auckland in 1985 at the age of 77.