Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

He was 19 and the son of Mabel Eleanor Miller (formerly Campbell), of Rosny Road, Bellerive, Hobart, Tasmania, and the late Colin Campbell.

Son of Colin Campbell and Mabel Eleanor (formerly Campbell) Miller of 'Riverview', Rosny Road, Bellerive, Tasmania

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Also served with the Derwent Senior Cadets

Alexander’s mother noted on his Roll of Honour circular, “Although only 19 when asking for his mother’s consent, to join the A.I.F. he said ‘Mother remember I am a Campbell, no mother of a Campbell has said no for her boy to fight for his country.’”

Alex’s father, Colin Campbell, had died at Boobyalla, northern Tasmania, six months after his only son was born in 1895. His mother remarried George Miller when he was about four years of age. Alexander was working as a railway clerk when he enlisted in September 1914, and he was one of the original members of the 12th Battalion.

He was reported missing soon after the landing at Anzac, and his death was not confirmed by a Court of Enquiry over 14 months later in June 1916. The following report of his death was printed in the Hobart Mercury during November 1916.

“Miss Miller of Bellerive, has received an official telegram stating that her son, Private Alexander Campbell (previously reported missing), was killed in action between 35 and 28 April, 1913. He left Hobart with the first contingent, and was one of the first to enlist from Bellerive. A letter received from the late Captain Margetts stated that Private Campbell landed with him under heavy fire, and pushed well in towards the Turkish lines the enemy attacked in numbers, but they managed to hold on, though later, when the Turks had been reinforced, they had to give way, and so many a brave man fell, and they could not get the dead in. Captain Margetts spoke of him as being most reliable, and very popular with his comrades.”

His mother, of course, was most anxious about Alexander’s fate and wrote several letters to Base Records seeking any information on his whereabouts. She was officially notified in October 1916 that he was ‘killed in action 25 April 1915.’

A letter was sent to his mother during January 1925, almost 10 years after his death, stating that the Imperial War Graves Commission had been successful in locating his remains and his identification disc. The identity disc was returned to his mother with the letter. Mabel Campbell replied in January 1925, “…I have been hoping ever for some news, as a mother my heart is very full, and I do value the disc above everything, for he wore it, Ah!!, how different it looks now, to what it did when my dear boy first showed it to me…”

The grave of Private Alexander Campbell, 12th Battalion AIF is the only identified Australian grave in the Nek Cemetery.

There are now 326 Commonwealth servicemen of the First World War buried or commemorated in ‘The Nek’ Cemetery. Of these 316 of the burials are unidentified, and there are special memorials to five Australian soldiers believed to be buried among them. Of the five identified graves, four are New Zealand soldiers, and the other belongs to Alexander Campbell of Tasmania, Australia.