Constable Robert Campbell of Lanarkshire Constabulary. Killed in action on the 15th of September 1916, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards.
CONSTABLE ROBERT CAMPBELL
Today we remember Constable Robert Campbell of Lanarkshire Constabulary who was killed in action on the 15th of September 1916, whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion of the Scots Guards.
CONSTABLE ROBERT CAMPBELL
LANARKSHIRE CONSTABULARY – 1912 to 1916
Robert was born on the 29th of October 1892 at Ballymoney, County Antrim in Ireland. His father worked in the textile industry. Robert was educated in County Antrim and on leaving school, worked in local factories.
In 1911 his father re-married and emigrated to the united States, settling in New York. Robert moved to Scotland where, in 1912, he joined Lanarkshire Constabulary.
On the 24th of May 1915, Robert joined the Scots Guards at Hamilton and was allocated Service No 13976. Following training he was posted to the 3rd Battalion and then the 2nd Battalion. On the 24th of January 1916 he was appointed Lance Corporal.
On the 23rd of July 1916, he embarked with his fellow soldiers abord the S.S. Copenhagen. They were immediately deployed to the Somme where they were involved in several engagements.
On the 15th of September the 2nd Battalion, along with many other regiments, were involved in fierce fighting during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and in the action at Ginchy. Robert was one of many reported as missing in action during the battle. It was later confirmed that he was killed in action on the 15th of September. Robert was only 23 years of age.
It was a very tragic day for the police as 34 British police officers, including Robert, were killed in this action.
Robert is remembered on the Thiepval War Memorial in France and the Ballymoney War Memorial at 28 Royal British Legion Hall High Street Ballymoney.
He is also remembered at the Lanarkshire Constabulary War Memorial in Hamilton and the Scottish National War memorial in Edinburgh.
May he Rest in Peace.
NOTE:
Thank you to Police Remembrance Trust Facebook page for recording and remembering the 34 former Policemen (six from Scottish Police Forces) who died on 15 September 1916 while serving in the Regiments of the Guards Division during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and in the action at Ginchy:
1. L/Cpl George Brandon, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Buckinghamshire Constabulary.
2. Pte Robert Victor Davison, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Middlesbrough Borough Police.
3. Sgt Richard Gosling, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
4. Pte George Robert Guy, 3rd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Glamorgan Constabulary.
5. Pte George Frederick Skarratt, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Manchester City Police.
6. Pte Vincent Wilkinson, 2nd Battalion Grenadier Guards, formerly PC, Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
7. Sgt Finlay Douglas Benson MM, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Liverpool City Police.
8. Pte Harold Bettison, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Nottinghamshire Constabulary.
9. Pte Philip Conway, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Staffordshire Constabulary.
10. Pte William Colley Fothergill, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Barrow-in-Furness Borough Police.
11. L/Cpl Percival Hartley, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Leeds City Police.
12. L/Cpl Robert Hudson, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Newcastle Upon Tyne City Police.
13. Pte Arthur Davidson Keeler, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Norfolk County Constabulary.
14. Pte Ernest Frederick Mitchell, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, Hull City Police.
15. Pte Thomas Parsons, 1st Battalion Coldstream Guards, formerly PC, East Sussex Constabulary.
16. Pte Adam Hyslop Hastings, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, City of Glasgow Police.
17. L/Cpl Robert Campbell, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Lanarkshire Constabulary
18. Sgt Alfred Oliver Clarkson, 2nd Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Liverpool City Police.
19. Pte Peter Forbes, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, South African Mounted Police
20. L/Cpl George Henry Grant, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Edinburgh City Police.
21. Pte Thomas Black Latto, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Leith Burgh Police.
22. Pte Andrew Sneddon, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Greenock Burgh Police.
23. L/Cpl William Weir, 1st Battalion Scots Guards, formerly PC, Edinburgh City Police.
24. Pte Michael Boylan, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
25. Pte Daniel Carey, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
26. Pte Owen Clerkin, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
27. Pte Michael Curran, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
28. Pte John Dyra, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
29. Pte John M Grogan, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
30. L/Cpl Michael Kilbane, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
31. Sgt Robert McCarthy MM, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
32. Pte Michael Mitchell. 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
33. L/Cpl Daniel Nealon, 2nd Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
34. L/Cpl Samuel Andrew Quigley, 1st Battalion Irish Guards, formerly PC, Royal Irish Constabulary.
