Another chap's photo that appears in the HMSO book THE TIGER KILLS was like Pte G Jackson in another thread also killed in Italy in 1944. CWGC :: Casualty Details Name:CAMPBELL, ARCHIBALD Initials:A Nationality:United Kingdom Rank:Warrant Officer Class II (C.S.M.) Regiment/Service:Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders Unit Text:2nd Bn. Age:31 Date of Death:09/03/1944 Service No:2928343 Awards:M M Additional information:Son of Lachlan and Helen Campbell; husband of Mary Campbell, of Portmahomack, Ross and Cromarty. Casualty Type:Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference:VII. E. 15. Cemetery:CASSINO WAR CEMETERY
London Gazette annoucement regarding his MM. Gazette Website: PDF Navigator http://www.ww2talk.com/forum/attachments/general/21262d1254781668-sgt-campbell-mm-2-cameron-highlanders-campbellmm-jpg
his Military Medal was awarded for his 'fine powers of leadership' during the fighting near Agordat , Eritrea, January 1941.
I have him listed as died of wounds. The date is when the 79th news was informed, not his actual date of death. Owen, Does the book give his company?
Thought you might be interested in these extracts from a letter written 31st March 1944 by the 2nd Cams CO to General Drew. Gives an Idea of what was happening where Campbell was fighting.
Cheers Richard. There is a group on Facebook regarding Monte Cassino & one member has posted photos of her Great-Uncle who was in same Bn, died of wounds 10/3/44. She posted photos of original wooden grave markers too. On 10th March 1944 during the battle of Monte Cassino as Sergeant in charge of ‘A’ Coy he was sent forward up the mountain with a detachment to reinforce ‘D’ Coy. During the ascent he was mortally wounded by mortar fire and died before reaching the casualty reception centre.
I'm amazed he survived as long as he did. I've just been reading about his Bn losses at Tobruk in 1942. Not many made it out. ah, I see from this website, that 4th Camerons were renumbered to make a new 2nd Bn. 2nd Battalion The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 1939-1945
He was still a original 2nd Cameron though. He was serving with them in 1941 in Eritrea when he got his MM. After advancing through Kassala, 2nd Camerons spearheaded 5th (Indian) Brigades attack on Italian positions at Agordat. Early February (3rd) 1941, 2nd Camerons secured a hill (dominating the Keren road) later called Cameron Ridge, from which subsequent attacks were made. After more than 5 weeks fighting and assaults on the 8000 ft Mount Sanchil & Brig's Peak, they broke through to Keren. 2nd Camerons lost 209 casualties, 41% of their strength. He was lucky to survive that lot as well.!!!
I've edited my post #10 as I thought more Camerons escaped from Tobruk but I've just read that only 6 in fact did. I wonder if Campbell was captured 7 later released/escaped or was he one of those six ? I think I'd better ask Brian, ADM199.
There is book about C Company of 2nd Cameron Highlanders Charlie Company: In Service with C Company 2nd Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders 1940-1944: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Cochrane: Books Charlie Company: In Service with 'C' Company, 2nd.Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, 1940-44: Amazon.co.uk: Peter Cochrane: Books Maybe some of forum members have it or maybe you can find it in the library. Author of this book fought whit 2nd Cameron Highlanders from 1940 to 1944, he missed the disaster at Tobruk because he was badly wounded earlier. So maybe Campbell also was wounded or sick and maybe he wasn't at Tobruk at all.
5th Camerons were reunited with two 2nd Camerons (who had escaped after being captured at Tobruk) on 23rd November 1942. C.S.M. M'Bride & C.Q.M.S. Holmes. 2nd Camerons were holding a 3 mile section of perimeter at Tobruk. Tobruk surrendered 21st June. 2nd Camerons fought on until the next day. Every fit man was ordered to try to get to reach El Alamein. Of course there is nothing to say that Campbell was there at Tobruk.!!
Good point, he might not have been there at all. Lots of unanswered questions. Still hoping gurdijeff can get to the cemetery & get a photo of his grave.
51 Highland: I've made a response to Owen which covers your posting. My father lost his right arm and leg to a rifle grenade while in his sangar on the 11th March. He lay for many hours and almost given up for dead because of the danger from enemy fire in daylight. Eventually he was stretchered down to a field hospital where a surgeon saved his life by his expertise and dad went on to live a 'normal' life and have a large family and a job in the civil Service He survived it all, as well as several strokes and an aortic aneurism until august'10 and almost to his 94th birthday. Lt P I Laughton, mentioned as getting wounded, in your text was Dad's Platoon Commander and travelled from his home in Sussex to speak at the funeral. It was a great moment and a tribute to a great and good Dad. Thanks for the post.
Owen: the 4th was my Dad's original battalion although he was a member of a group of new recruits and 'unassigned' when they went to Cherbourg as part of the diversionary/rearguard actions there in 1940. On their return to Inverness they were re-organised and sent out to guard Dutch oil refineries in Aruba and on returning from there, via the Mississippi and NYC, they were "defending Scotland" (to quote my Dad) up in the Orkneys and Shetland. As the new 2nd they went to Egypt and thence via Sicily (I think) they followed the advance to Cassino where they showed real Cameron spirit for more than a month in the front line.
Yep, the "new" 2nd Camerons, left the Shetlands and sailed for Egypt December 1943 where it joined the 11th (Indian) Brigade in 4th Indian Div. They went straight from Egypt to Italy February 1944. and returned to active service at the batle of Cassino, losing 250 casualties in a month.
