Lorne MacLaine Campbell
Lorne MacLaine Campbell | |
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Relations | Gordon Campbell (uncle) |
Early life
Lorne MacLaine Campbell was born on 22 July 1902 in
Military service
Campbell was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 8th battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Territorial Army) on 23 September 1921,[3] then under the command of his father. By 1939, Campbell was a major and second-in-command of the battalion.[2]
Second World War
In August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the
After returning the battalion, which had suffered very heavy losses, was reformed with large numbers of reinforcements. In 1942 he became
On 20 May Campbell was promoted to the acting rank of
Victoria Cross
Campbell was a 40 years old temporary lieutenant colonel in the 7th Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's),
On the 6th April, 1943, in the attack upon the Wadi Akarit position, the task of breaking through the enemy minefield and anti-tank ditch to the East of the Roumana feature and of forming the initial bridgehead for a Brigade of the 51st Highland Division was allotted to the Battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell.
The attack had to form up in complete darkness and had to traverse the main offshoot of the Wadi Akarit at an angle to the line of advance. In spite of heavy machine gun and shell fire in the early stages of the attack, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell successfully accomplished this difficult operation, captured at least 600 prisoners and led his Battalion to its objective, having to cross an unswept portion of the enemy minefield in doing so.
Later, upon reaching his objective he found that a gap which had been blown by the Royal Engineers in the anti-tank ditch did not correspond with the vehicle lane which had been cleared in the minefield. Realising the vital necessity of quickly establishing a gap for the passage of anti-tank guns, he took personal charge of this operation. It was now broad daylight and, under very heavy machine-gun fire and shell fire, he succeeded in making a personal reconnaissance and in conducting operations which led to the establishing of a vehicle gap.
Throughout the day Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell held his position with his Battalion in the face of extremely heavy and constant shell fire, which the enemy was able to bring to bear by direct observation.
About 1630 hours determined enemy counter-attacks began to develop, accompanied by tanks. In this phase of the fighting Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell's personality dominated the battle field by a display of valour and utter disregard for personal safety, which could not have been excelled. Realising that it was imperative for the future success of the Army plan to hold the bridgehead his Battalion had captured, he inspired his men by his presence in the forefront of the battle, cheering them on and rallying them as he moved to those points where the fighting was heaviest.
When his left forward company was forced to give ground he went forward alone, into a hail of fire and personally reorganised their position, remaining with the company until the attack at this point was held. As reinforcements arrived upon the scene he was seen standing in the open directing the fight under close range fire of enemy infantry and he continued to do so although already painfully wounded in the neck by shell fire. It was not until the battle died down that he allowed his wound to be dressed. Even then, although in great pain, he refused to be evacuated, remaining with his Battalion and continuing to inspire them by his presence on the field.
Darkness fell with the Argylls still holding their positions, though many of its officers and men had become casualties.
There is no doubt that but for Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell's determination, splendid example of courage and disregard of pain, the bridgehead would have been lost. This officer's gallantry and magnificent leadership when his now tired men were charging the enemy with the bayonet and were fighting them at hand grenade range, are worthy of the highest honour, and can seldom have been surpassed in the long history of the Highland Brigade.[5]
Personal life
In December 1935 Campbell married Amy Muriel Jordan.[1] The couple had two sons, Alastair Lorne Campbell of Airds (b. 1937) and Patrick Gordon Campbell (b. 1939).[3]
Following demobilisation, Campbell returned to the wine trade, became a liveryman of the
Campbell died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh on 25 May 1991, aged 88,[2] and is buried in Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh in the upper northern section. His medals are on display at the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders Museum in Stirling Castle.[7]
References
- ^ a b c Levens, R.G.C., ed. (1964). Merton College Register 1900–1964. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. p. 142.
- ^ required.)
- ^ a b c d e f "British Army officer histories". Unit Histories. Archived from the original on 5 October 2011. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
- ^ Grant, Brig (Ret'd) C. S. (30 September 2010). "Surrender at St. Valéry, June 1940". 51st Highland Division. Trustees of the 51st Highland Division Trust Fund & the Highland Division Ross Bequest Fund. Retrieved 10 December 2010.
- ^ "No. 36045". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1943. p. 2623.
- ^ "No. 44600". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1968. p. 6309.
- ^ "Known Graves of Holders of the Victoria Cross in: Edinburgh". victoriacross.org. Retrieved 7 January 2022.
Bibliography
- Buzzell, Nora, ed. (1997). ISBN 978-0-90632-427-1.
- Monuments to Courage. Weybridge, Surrey: Kevin & Kay Patience.
- ISBN 978-0-75091-026-2.
- Ross, Graham (1995). ISBN 978-1-89927-200-6.
External links
- British Army Officers 1939−1945 Archived 5 October 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- Location of grave and VC medal (Edinburgh)
- Generals of World War II