CAMPBELL David Major

SKR/DAT/IP/27704

CAMPBELL David Major

2000-2024

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Surname: CAMPBELL;

Forename(s): David;

Initials: D;

Rank: Major;

Previous Regiment: Argyll & SH;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 19 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (1): 48 Coy;

Other MGC Unit Served (2): 25 Bn;

Awarded: MC, bar to MC;

Gallantry Notes: MC: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of three batteries of machine guns. On one occasion he kept all his guns in action until his right flank was turned, then, after covering the retirement of the infantry, withdrew to another position where he kept off fresh attacks until reinforcements arrived.

Bar to MC: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst commanding his machine gun company. He disposed his guns with great skill, both before an enemy attack, and subsequently in each of the successive positions taken up by the infantry. Engaged all day in heavy fighting, he spent the nights reorganising his company and supervising the disposition of his guns. During another enemy attack he personally took charge of a machine gun and took it out to meet the enemy. Throughout the operations he worked indefatigably, and the excellent work done by his company was largely due to his personal efforts.;

Other Data: Adjt with 19 Coy Sept 1916
5/1/1917 - to be OC 95 Coy
to be OC 56 Coy 3/6/1917
See: History of 25 Div - p 269 & 289
gt nephew in OCA
bar to MC confirmed in War Diary 25 Bn 3/7/1918
University of Edinburgh
Miller Institution, Thurso. M.A. 1913. Schoolmaster. 4th and 6th Royal Scots (Territorial Force), Private 1910. Mobilised August 1914. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders 2nd Lieutenant November 1914. Machine-Gun Corps February 1916; Lieutenant July 1916; Acting Major April 1918. M.C. and Bar.
Photo: GS Archives
D Campbell
David Campbell, M.C., Major, M.G. Corps, and Argyll and Suth. Hrs., s. of Robert Campbell,
and his wife, Barbara Manson, The Faulds: b. Bowertower: educ. Gillock S., Thurso
Academy, and Edinburgh University: distinguished student: graduated M.A. Headmaster
Stanstill S., and now Headmaster of Lybster H.G. S. Enlist. 1914 in ranks in Univ. Coy.,
Royal Scots. Promoted to commission in Arg. And Suth. Hrs. In France 1st Oct. 1915 till 14th
June 1918, latterly with M.G.C. Fought in many great battles, including the Somme 1916, the
Arras Front 1917, Messines 1917, Cambrai 1917 and the struggles of 1918. For his gallantry
he was promoted Lieut., Capt., and Major, and awarded the M C. and Bar. At the battle of
the Marne in June 1918 he was severely wounded, two months after his brother, equally
brave with himself, had been killed at Ypres. The Military Secretary of the War Office gives
the following account of the services for which Major David Campbell won the Military Cross.
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in charge of three batteries of machine
guns. On one occasion he kept all his guns in action till his right flank was turned, then, after
covering the retirement of the Infantry, withdrew to another position, where he kept off fresh
attacks until reinforcements arrived.”
The Bar to the Cross was given: -
“For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty while commanding his machine-gun
company, lie disposed his guns with great skill both before an enemy attack and
subsequently in each of the successive positions taken up by the Infantry. Engaged all day
in heavy fighting, he spent his nights re-organising his company, and supervising the
disposition of his guns. During another enemy attack he personally took charge of the
machine-gun and took it out to meet the enemy. Throughout the operations he worked
indefatigably, and the excellent work done by his company was largely due to his personal
efforts.”
Major Campbell writes: -
“I was often struck with the coolness of the French and Belgian civil population under
shellfire, and I have often seen instances of this when the average person would have
cleared out from such a decidedly ‘unhealthy atmosphere.’ On 25th April, 1918, Kemmel Hill
was captured by the Germans; and the area immediately West of it was subsequently kept
under shell-fire to a depth of four to six miles. Within a mile of our new front line stood a farm
inhabited by an elderly couple, who refused to leave for safety, the farmer for two days going
out after dark to drive back what animals he could, determined not to quit without his flock.
Meanwhile the good lady attended to our soldiers, who had billeted themselves in two cellars
of the farm, and she carried on her daily routine as if nothing extraordinary had taken place.
On the morning of the 28th both decided to give up their home; but before doing so the
farmer’s wife started her faithful dog to drive the tread-wheel which set her churn in motion.
The shells were falling but a little distance away; yet the dog, like his master, indifferent,
faithfully carried out his task. The butter was ready in due course, and the good lady handed
it round to the British soldiers. Thereupon she dressed herself in her Sunday best, and after
she and her husband had said to all around ‘Au revoir!’ both took their departure to the rear,
and through heavy fire got back safely. During those three days the windows of the house
had been shattered, and shell-splinters had pierced the roof, some of the shells falling in the
yard. The day after they left, the roof was blown in, and there were several casualties in the
vicinity, as the Huns on that day made their final great effort to break through our lines in
their futile bid for the Channel Ports: and the continuous bombardment in that area from
three a.m. till eleven p.m. was the heaviest I have ever experienced. This is but one of many
such instances of civilians' courage witnessed by me through those exciting days. Especially
on the 26th April, parties of Belgian men could be seen dashing forward to rescue their cattle
and valuables, left behind the previous day. Some of these they rescued from the vicinity of
the front line, at the risk of their own lives.” (Source not stated);

Other Notes: MC: LG 16/9/1918
bar to MC: LG 16/9/1918;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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