Sgt Richard Dougal Campbell

[Deerhunter]

He was prob from the Merseyside area, although I cannot be sure of that. I have his plaque but very little to go on, except:

Regtl No: 355254

KIA: 9 Aug 1916, commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial

Prob 1/10 Bn of the King's (Liverpool) Regt

Does anyone have the Regimental history for this period?

Any assistance greatly appreciated,

Tks,

DD

[ATNOMIS]

DD

Mic is very faint..

Name: Richard D Campbell

Regiment or Corps: 10 Sco ??, 10 Sco ??

Regimental Number: 2028, 355254

Name: Richard Dougal Campbell

Birth Place: Liverpool

Residence: Liverpool

Death Date: 9 Aug 1916

Enlistment Location: Fazakerley, Liverpool

Rank: Sergeant

Regiment: King's (Liverpool Regiment)

Battalion: 10th Battalion.

Number: 355254

Type of Casualty: Killed in action

[Deerhunter]

ATNOMIS, many thanks indeed.

DD

[ATNOMIS]

DD

Your welcome.

Printed his Mic.

Very very Faint.

But defo 10 Scottish number 2608 pte

x sgt 355254

say killed no date.

qualifying date looks like 1 may be 4 /11 / 1914

Medals 14 star bwm and Vic.

Other than that.... sorry.

PM your e mail and I send you the MIc ...

Cheers

Atnomis

[ATNOMIS]

DD

Recieved and sent

Cheers

Simon/Atnomis

[daggers]

This Campbell is in the Roll of Honour within 'Bravest of Hearts - the biography of a battalion - The Liverpool Scottish in the Great War', with details as given in the earlier posts & kia 9/8/16, but he does not feature in the index of names. The book shows that the first of the battalion landed in France on 3/11/14 in ss Maidan.

D

[nthornton1979]

Regiment History :-

"The Battalion was ordered to move up to the front line in front of Guillemont at 8pm, "when they would attack". The diary says nothing of the difficulties of that approach march, though it was 4am on the 9th before the assembly trenches were reached, only twenty minutes before 'zero'. But the Brigade Diary records that "the guides were not satisfactory; although most of the Officers ahd been around the trenches, battalion had not been in the line at all and did not know the ground. All this, combined with the fact that it had been impossible to issue orders until the very last minute, and also that the trenches were full of various regiments which had attacked the previous morning, made the operation one of great difficulty, and very great credit is due to all battalion commanders in getting their battalions up into the strange trenches in time.

But as will be seen later, not all battalions were 'on time'.

At "zero" - 4.20am - only the 1/10th King's (Lieut-Colonel J.R.Davidson) were ready to attack,but, supported by the 5th South Lancs, the first waves of the right and left companies advanced close under the artillery barrage. The enemy's barb-wire entanglements were found uncut, and although the gallant King's men got within a few yards of the wire, they were held up and hadto fall back to their jumping-off line.

On the left of the 1/10th Battalion the 5th Loyal North Lancs had been unable to get into position before 5am, but when they did attack they met with no more success than the King's men.

After reorganising his battalion Lieut-Colonel Davidson again led his men to the attack, but again they were beaten back and their C.O wounded. The battalion war diary states that four seperate attacks were made, but "ultimately the battalion only occupied its original frontline trench".

The casualties of the 1/10th in this attempt were very heavy and the battalion was brought out of action by a Sulbatern - Second Lieut G.D Morton - who was Acting Adjutant at the time. Major F.W.M. Drew (second in command) assumed command of the battalion.

During the night of the 9th the battalion was relieved by the 1/5th King's Own and moved back to Liverpool and Lancaster support trenches.

Footnote at bottom of page - "No casualty list appears either in battalion, Brigade or Divisional diaries, but at the end of August the battalion diary has an entry under "Casualties for the month" , which shows 5 Officers and 84 other ranks killed, 8 officers and 206 other ranks wounded, and 5 officers and 27 other ranks missing.

It was during this attack that the battalion M.O, Capt N.G Chavasse, MC,MB, RAMC, won the Victoria Cross.

Neil

[Deerhunter]

Gents,

Many thanks indeed.

DD