King of the Costers, Frank Russell.

 The 1917 Daily Mirror had pictures of military figures mentioning their exploits with a picture entitled 'King of the Costers' of Frank Russell who had died,

He was a stall-holder on Beresford Square Market, Woolwich and lived in Salutation Alley, a convenient location to store his barrows and move them into the market. He had resided in Woolwich since 1868. His birthplace is unknown, as he lied about this and his age, his birth was between 1840 and 1851 according to various records.

Birth certificates of his four daughters indicate two wives Diana Neal and Elizabeth Neal or merely the use of different forenames as they also lied about their ages. The records indicate two other wives, Charlotte Hicks who fell down a staircase and died; the other was Annie Rolfe, a widow, who in the 1911 census said they had been married for 13 years.

His appearance in court records include his obstructing the highway with his barrows.

The 16 May 1900 Booth notebook for London records Salutation Alley as very poor and rough, Irish, some costers, some thieves, fat loathsome women, barrows, 4/- (4s approx. 20 p) for two rooms and wash-house.

An amazing change in life from poor beginnings to National Newspaper recognition.