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From the book Fallen Saints  - Neil Campbell of Meekatharra, Western Australia was born in Adelaide in 1882.

While at the School, he served in the cadets and after leaving entered Adelaide University where he gained a degree in Mine Engineering. After returning from the Boer War in which he served as a Lieutenant with the 5 (Imperial) Contingent he was employed as a Mine Manager and Engineer in Western Australia; he enlisted in the AIF on 23 December 1914.

On 8 February 1915, Second Lieutenant Campbell, A Squadron, 10th Australian Light Horse Regiment, sailed from Fremantle aboard HMAT Mashobra.  When the Turks mounted their main attack at Quinn's Post on 29 May they exploded a mine near the centre of the position and at 3 a.m., during the furious fight there Second Lieutenant Campbell was blown up by a mine, shot, and five hours later wounded by a bomb. Suffering with a bullet wound to the left shoulder and chest, shell shock and multiple bomb wounds to his back he was admitted to the Hospital Ship Neuralia and with the bullet and shrapnel still imbedded in his chest, he was evacuated to Blue Sisters Hospital, Malta.

On 29 June, he was placed aboard HS Glengorm Castle and evacuated to England where he was admitted to No 3 General Hospital Wandsworth.  He was granted a short period of furlough commencing on 10 September and in October sailed for Australia aboard HS Karoola.  

In late November, he was admitted to No. 8 Australian General Hospital in Fremantle and transferred to No. 7 Australian General Hospital, Keswick, South Australia in December. He attended a medical board in January 1916 and after being declared fit for active service was cleared for at the end of the month.  

At the beginning of April, he sailed from Fremantle aboard HMAT Ulysses with the 15th quota of reinforcements for the 3rd Light Horse Training Regiment and rejoined his old unit at Tel-el-Kebir on 26 April.  After a series of short hospitalisations it was discovered he was suffering with Paratyphoid and so on 7 July was admitted to HS Galeka, evacuated to England, and diagnosed as unfit for service for 4-6 months. In September19117, he was promoted to Lieutenant and transferred to the Australian Tunnelling Company Reinforcements; he joined 3rd Australian Tunnelling Company in early March. While attempting to delouse a rifle grenade booby trap on 3 May he suffered bomb wounds to his hands face and eyes and was admitted to 7th Stationary Hospital, Boulogne with a severe traumatic cataract.

On 11 May he was admitted to HS St Andrew and embarked for England where he was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital at Wandsworth.

The following extract is from a letter dated 30 July 1917 to the School Magazine written by Sergeant Keith Catchlove. (OS)

… In London I met Neil Campbell, who is still in hospital suffering with his eyes, and although he has had a very rough time he is keen to get back to France. … [1]

During the months following his return to England, Lieutenant Campbell was transferred back and forth between 3rd London General and 5th Auxiliary Hospital but rejoined his unit at the front in October 1917.  Sadly, after all he had been through, and so late in the war, Captain Neil Campbell was killed in action on 10 April 1918; he was 36 years of age.

Letters and witness statements [2]

On 30 April 1918, in answer to a letter from Lieutenant Campbell’s brother-in-law Mr J.F. Downer, the OC 3rd Tunnelling Company, wrote to explain the events leading up to Neil’s death.  

Major Alex Sanderson DSO, MC, said the Section to which Lieutenant Campbell belonged had been employed on a part of the front about 30 kilometres from the Headquarters for some time. Major Sanderson said he had purposely placed Neil with this detachment in the hope that due to the nature of their work his eye would have a better chance to improve than it would were he continually working in artificial light in the tunnels. Sanderson said when he last saw Lieutenant Campbell’s in the first week of April Neil had told him his eye had greatly improved.

Some weeks later when the Germans attacked in the vicinity of where he and his men were working, Neil with another very capable officer and his detachment joined an Infantry Brigade to assist in halting the enemy advance. Lieutenant Campbell was ordered to take up a certain position and with his own men and part of another unit formed a Company sized unit (X Company) of which he was put in command. The battalion headquarter to which X Company was attached was less than 200 metres away and so when Campbell wished for some reason to see the Battalion Commander he delegated command to his 2IC, Lieutenant Dow, and set off towards BHQ.  After only a few minutes the enemy appeared in force and heavy fighting took place. The attacking Germans were repulsed with great loss but since they had by progressed on each flank it was deemed necessary to withdraw from the position. During the withdrawal a careful search which included the building which had housed BHQ was made but there was no sign of Neil Campbell.  Dow and the remainder of the company fought their way back to the British line and remained in the fighting until relieved several days later. In the letter Major Sanderson told Downer he had not by then been in touch with the men who were with Neil prior to the fighting but assured Mr Downer he would make every enquiry as soon as possible. He told Downer there were a large number of men killed on both sides and although the fate of his brother-in law was still then only a matter of conjecture he knew Lieutenant Campbell ‘was too brave and gallant a fighter to allow him to be taken prisoner.’ Sanderson told Mr Downer that since there was a chance Neil had been wounded and taken away he and his men had not by then given up hope. ‘His absence is keenly felt by his brother officers and other ranks of this unit, all of whom loved him very greatly for his soldierly and gentlemanly qualities.’

In a letter dated 1 May 1918, Lieutenant John Dow wrote: - As you probably know, Neil was in command of a detachment of this Coy. At Armentieres, I was his second in command. All the night of the 8th/9th, Fritz put over a heavy bombardment, and broke through on our right. The evening of the 9th, we were ordered to report to the 102nd Brigade at Erquingham. We did so, and after many vicissitudes we were shown a position in the field, which we occupied that night and the best part of the next day. We formed part of the X Battn. Of the 102nd Brigade, and Neil was given command of our section of the line. Towards dusk Fritz got round our flanks, and a written order, addressed to Neil (personally) was brought to me ordering us to retire. I opened it and took it to Neil who was some 20 yards away. The Bosche was then about 300 yards away and giving us a warm time with shells, machine guns and rifle bullets. Neil. For some reasons did not seem satisfied with the order. He said to me ‘Hang on and I’ll go and see about it.’  He then started to walk off the field; a shell near him burst and he dropped. We thought he had gone, but in a second or two, he got up and walked away as if unharmed. By this time the troops on our flanks had retired, and I found myself with 5 or 6 men left so we ran for it. I then took my servant and went to Battn. Hqts., to look for Neil. Found it deserted. My duty then was to look after the men, so collected them and reported to the O.C. at Jesus Farm. This, as far as I know was the last that was seen of Neil. I should say that Nunn-Pendle, Neil’s servant, asked permission to go with him when he left, but Neil would not permit it. 

A Court of Inquiry to establish the fate of Lieutenant Campbell and others was assembled at Phalempin, France at 10 a.m., on 24 January 1919.

The following are a small selection of excerpts from the many witness statements made during the Court of Inquiry and are available for viewing on the National Archives of Australia website.

Lieutenant Righton Cavanagh M.C. said he had known Lieutenant Campbell since he joined the Company. ‘I think he was an exceptionally brave man and I know from experience in the trenches with him, that he had an absolute disregard of shell fire. He would not be taken prisoner.’

Lieutenant Edward Horn said from his personal acquaintance with Lieutenant Campbell and ‘my knowledge gained of him as a soldier while working with him at Hulloch, I am satisfied that if he were placed in a position where, if it were a question of surrendering or fighting to a finish, that he would certainly fight to a finish and not be taken prisoner.’

Captain Reginald Langdon M.C. (OS) who had known Neil Campbell since 1898 said he had been on Active Service in the South African War for three years and returned with a reputation for fearlessness and bravery and a Commission. ‘He enlisted in 1914, participated in the Gallipoli Campaign, and was severely wounded as the Commander of his Squadron in the 10th Aust Light Horse. He left Australia after convalescence and returned to Egypt, and there contracted Typhoid Fever and was evacuated to England. After recovery, he transferred to the 3rd Aust Tun. Coy reporting in early 1917. During the whole time he was with the Company, he was a Lieutenant in my Section, and I am of the opinion he was a man absolutely devoid of fear and in no circumstances, do I think, he would surrender to the enemy.’

The finding of the Court of Inquiry convened on 24 January 1919 was that Captain Campbell, who had been listed as missing since 11 April 1917, was killed in action near Erquinghem, France on 10 April 1918. [3]

Neil’s brother, Captain Gordon Cathcart Campbell MC and bar (OS) rendered distinguished service with the 10th Battalion throughout the Great War and returned to Australia in May 1919. Another of his brothers, Captain Allan J Campbell (OS) died in the South African War.

[1] St Peter’s School Magazine - W K Thomas & Co, Adelaide, December 1917, p. 49
[2] Australian War Memorial, Australian Red Cross wounded and missing enquiry bureau files- Lieutenant Neil Campbell / 0680702, viewed 6 December 2005
[3] National Archives of Australia: B 2455, Campbell Neil / 1855329, viewed 2 August 2008