Charles Russell was born in Australia on 27 March 1892, the son of Charles Wanley Trelawney Fuller Russell and Emily Russell (née Campbell). He joined the Royal Navy as a Cadet in September 1904.

Promoted to Sub Lieutenant in January 1913, Russell joined submarines in October 1914 and was subsequently appointed to HMS C18 as First Lieutenant in February 1915, followed by First Lieutenant of W3 (December 1915) and E33 (August 1916).

His first Command appointment was to HMS C13 in May 1917, followed by command of F3 in January 1918. May 1918 saw him in command of HMS H8 and in October 1918 of G7.  HMS G7 was declared lost with all hands in the North Sea, cause unknown, on 1 November 1918.

Charles Russell is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval War Memorial on Panel No. 28.