Sapper John Campbell

SAPPER JOHN CAMPBELL

6620 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

John Campbell stated he was born in Stornoway, Barvas, Ross-shire, Scotland about 1887 the son of John, a Crofter, and Isabell (nee McIver) Campbell. In 1891 at Barvas the family consisted of John (66), Isabella (45), Donald (10), Allan (9), Christina (7) and John (4). Ten years later in 1901 residents of the household were living at 17 North Bragar, Barvas were John (76), Isabella (54), Allan (19) and John (14) whose occupation was given as a Crofters’s son. He came to Australia.

On October 4, 1916 in Cloncurry, Queensland the twenty-nine year old miner applied to enlist for active service abroad. Personal particulars taken show he was single and residing at Cloncurry with a chest measurement of 99cms (39ins). Declared fit for service his application was accepted by the recruiting officer. Attestation forms were completed the next day adding further information of his height 177cms (5ft 9½ins), weighing 72.7kgs (160lbs) with a chest measurement of 94cms (37ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and light brown hair. Distinctive marks were two vaccination scars on his left arm and a mark on the back of his hand. Presbyterian was his religious denomination. Next-of-kin was his Uncle Donald McIvor of Port Adelaide, S.A. and later changed to Fremantle, W.A. He was sworn in the same day.

Basic training commenced at Enoggera camp, Brisbane on October 13, 1916 for ten days with the 11th Depot Battalion then briefly trained with the 7th Reinforcement Battalion. He was declared ‘dentally fit’ on October 23. On November 1, 1916 was sent to the Miners’ Depot (1st Military District) to join their recruits moving out on January 4, 1917 to the Miners’ Reinforcement camp in Seymour, Victoria. After a week was assigned to the January, 1917 Reinforcements to the Tunnelling Companies in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 6620.

The Reinforcements consisting of 168 members departed Melbourne, Vic at 3 p.m. on January 17, 1917 on board the HMAT A5 RMS Omrah. The mail ship arrived at 8 a.m. two days later at Adelaide, S.A. and headed off at 4 p.m. that afternoon. It sailed into the West Australian port of Fremantle on January 21 where the Reinforcements were granted Day Leave ashore the next day before leaving on January 24, 1917. The ship returned to Fremantle at 7 a.m. on February 1 and put out to sea again at 5 p.m. the next afternoon February 2. Durban, South Africa was reached at 7 a.m. on February 16 and sailed at 6 p.m. the following evening. The next port of call was Cape Town on February 20 arriving at 8 a.m. where two days later the men were granted Day Leave ashore until 11 p.m. on the 22nd before departing at 5 p.m. on February 24. The sights of Sierra Leone were seen closely on March 9, 1917 as the vessel docked at 8 a.m. and after refuelling left at 7 a.m. on March 12, 1917. The voyage concluded at Devonport on March 27, 1917 and the troops disembarked at Plymouth after 74 days at sea. The three officers and 165 other ranks were detrained to Tidworth and marched into the Drafting Depot camp at Perham Downs for further training for the front.

On April 14, 1917 the men proceeded to France from Folkstone arriving at the Aust General Base Depot the next day. Sapper Campbell was assigned to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion on April 21 which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.

He was attached to the 2nd Tunnelling Company from the Reinforcements on May 17, 1917 and taken on strength with the company on June 6.

Not long after on June 12, 1917 he went sick to the 7th General Hospital at St Omer with Mumps and returned to Base Depot on July 1 and rejoined his unit two days later.

The following Offence was dealt with on July 22, 1917:

Offence: 18/2/17 W.O.A.S. [while of active service] Absent without Leave from

Trench Parade

Award: 12 days F.P. No. 2 [field punishment]

Blue Chevrons were issued to wear on his uniform for twelve months service.

On March 16, 1918 he was wounded in action suffering gas poisoning from a shell attack. Entries from the Unit Diary of the 2nd Tunnelling Company reported:

15/3/18 Enemy activity still intense, 60,000 gas shells fired on Corps front.

No further casualties.

16/3/18 Work started at positions 176, 191 and 194. Lt-Col Logan R.A.M.C. Director of Medical Services for Tunnelling Companies, visited Unit from G.H.Q. to obtain information re recent shelling; and to decide the best measures to be taken in future cases.

He was taken to the 49th Field Ambulance and the next day sent to the 48th Casualty Clearing Station. Conveyed on A.T.24 to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen he remained until March 26 when moved to the Convalescent Depot. He entered the 73rd General Hospital at Tronville a day later and moved to the 14th Convalescent Depot on March 30.

On April 26 left for the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles and marched out to his unit on May 6 rejoining on May 10, 1918.

Sapper was wounded in action (2nd Occasion) on September 26, 1918 and taken to the 132nd Field Ambulance with a shell wound to his arm. The following extract is from the Unit Diary for that day:

29/9/18At 5.50 a.m. the general attack took place. The following was the order of battle on the Australian Corps

front North to South:

30th American Division & 27th American Division with the 3rd and 5th Australian Division in reserve.

Road parties moved out as detailed in Operations order No. 2 at zero hour plus 15 minutes.

No. 1 Section (Captain L. De J Grut) was responsible for BLACK ROAD and No. 2 Section (Captain C.L.

marked by large notice boards were established to which the 5th Pioneers and Officer in charge or

road reconnaissance sent their reports. They were then forwarded from there by motor cyclist to

the Company Headquarters at C.R.E.’s Road Report Centre. The progress of the roads was there

plotted on a special graph which will be included in next month’s diary, and the information wire

to the Chief Engineer, Australian Corps, 3rd Australian Division, 5th Australian Division, 27th

American Division and the 30th American Division.

No. 3 Section (Lieut S. Halford) commenced work at Zero hour plus 30 minutes on the

HARGICOURT-ROSSAY Road and by 9 a.m. Lieut Halford reported that this road was in

excellent order for Double Motor Transport.

All reports received from parties on the road together with the original carbon copies of reports

went by C.R.E., Corps Troops are attached as Appendix No XCII.

These are arranged chronologically and from then the progress of the operation can be accurately

followed.

The casualties in Nos. 1 and 2 sections were comparatively heavy, 10 out of 20 of Lieut K.B.

LEWIS’s party with 5th Pioneers Battalion became casualties.

He was transferred to the 55th C.C.S. then transported by Ambulance Train to the 5th General Hospital at Rouen and admitted on October 1. The hospital ship Marguerite conveyed him to England the next day and entered the 2nd Western General Hospital in Manchester with shell wound to arm.

On October 21, 1918 was discharged to furlough and report to No. 1 Command Depot on November 4. After reporting to Headquarters was admitted to the 1st Aust Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. While there Peace was declared and was discharged on November 21 to the No. 2 C.D. at Weymouth.

Special Leave was granted from February 26 to March 27, 1919 without pay and he returned to his home district in Scotland.

At 24 Upper Barvas according to the rites of the Established Church of Scotland after publication, John Campbell (32) of 17 North Bragar, Barvas married Mary Ann Finlayson (32) of 53 South Bragar, Barvas, the daughter of Colin Finlayson, a Crofter, deceased. The ceremony was conducted by the Minister Rev. Norman Laing on March 25, 1919.

When he did not return to Weymouth from Special Leave was declared A.W.L. and recorded returning from absence on April 9 to the No. 2 C.D. The following day he was charged with the following:

Offence: Westham, Weymouth 27/3/19 A.W.L. from 23.59 hrs 27/3/19 to 18.30 hrs

9/4/19

Award: Dismissed by Major Playford 10/4/19

His wife’s address was given as Mrs M.A. Campbell, 53 South Bragar, Stormoway, Lewis, Scotland.

On July 7, 1919 he was transferred to No. 5 Group camp at Sutton Veny to await his return to Australia.

Sapper Campbell accompanied by his wife departed from Liverpool on H.T. Ceramic on August 9, 1919 for the voyage home. Next-of-kin was advised by Base Records on September 1, 1919 he was on his way. The ship docked in Sydney, NSW (2nd M.D.) on October 3, 1919. The arrival in Brisbane of the soldiers was reported in:

The Courier-Mail Monday October 6, 1919

HOME AGAIN

SOLDIERS BY THE CERAMIC

There was an animated scene at the Central Railway Station at 5.40 p.m. on Saturday, when a special train arrived from Sydney with 138 soldiers, 84 soldier’s wives, 19 children and two sisters, all except one, having landed in Australia, by the transport Ceramic. There were four officers among the men, and Lieut Heron was in charge of the train. The soldiers were accorded a splendid reception being motored along Edward and Queen Streets to the Kangaroo Point Military Hospital, where tea, provided by the Red Cross awaited them. Article abridged

Military Discharge was issued in Brisbane (1st M.D.) on November 11, 1919 as medically unfit.

For serving his country Sapper 6620 John Campbell, 2nd Tunnelling Company was issued with the British War Medal (27363) and the Victory Medal (26203).

A Statement of Service was issued by Base Records to the Repatriation Commission in Brisbane on September 14, 1936.

John Campbell passed away on September 26, 1959 at the age of 72 years. Family notice was published in:

The Courier-Mail Monday September 28, 1959

FUNERALS

CAMPBELL, John—Friends of Mrs M.A. Campbell are invited to attend the Funeral of her beloved Husband, John Campbell, of 102 Samford Road, Alderley (late 1st A.I.F.), to move from Alex. Gow’s Funeral Chapel, Petrie Bight, after Service commencing at 11 o’clock, This (Monday) Morning, for the West Chapel of the Crematorium, Mt Thompson. No Flowers by request.

ALEX. GOW, Funeral Director

His war service is commemorated in the Garden of Remembrance at Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery, Bridgeman Downs, Brisbane on Wall 3 in Row G.