Frederick William Campbell Explained

Frederick William Campbell
Birth Date:15 June 1867
Death Date:19 June 1915 (aged 48)
Birth Place:Wellington County, Ontario
Death Place:Givenchy, France
Placeofburial:Boulogne Eastern Cemetery
Allegiance: Canada
Branch:Canadian Expeditionary Force
Serviceyears:1885 - 1915
Rank:Captain (posthumous)
Unit:1st Canadian Battalion (Ontario Regiment), CEF
Battles:Second Boer War
First World War
Awards: Victoria Cross

Frederick William Campbell (15 June 1867 – 19 June 1915) was a Canadian Army Officer, and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Biography

Campbell was born on 15 June 1867 to Ephraim B. and Esther A. Hunt Campbell of Mount Forest, Ontario. He was married, to Margaret Annie.

As a lieutenant in the 1st (Western Ontario) Battalion, Canadian Expeditionary Force during the First World War, he was awarded the VC for actions performed on 15 June 1915 (his 48th birthday) at Givenchy, France. As he was retreating, his right thigh bone was shattered. The wound turned septic, and Campbell died in hospital in Boulogne four days later.

He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, (Plot II, Row A, Grave 24). His gravestone inscription reads:HOW SLEEP THE BRAVE WHO SINK TO REST BY ALL THEIR COUNTRY'S WISHES BLEST. This inscription is from 'Ode Written in the Beginning of the Year 1746' by William Collins.

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