Frederick William Campbell VC

Name: Frederick William Campbell

Conflict: First World War

Gazetted: August 23, 1915

Service: Canadian Expeditionary Force

Place/date of birth: Mount Forest, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada/June 15 1867

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Lieutenant (posthumously promoted to Temporary Captain)

Date of bravery: June 15, 1915

London Gazette citation:

For most conspicuous bravery on 15th June, 1915, during the action at Givenchy.

Lieutenant Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded.

When our supply of bombs had become exhausted, this Officer advanced his gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1,000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy’s counter-attack.

This very gallant Officer was subsequently wounded, and has since died.

Click here to see full Gazette entry.

Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: No 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, France/June 19, 1915

Grave/memorials: Boulogne East Cemetery, France/Plaque Royal Canadian Legion Hall, Mount Forest, Oxford County, Ontario, Canada, and naming of Frederick Campbell Public School, Borden, Ontario, Canada.

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2017

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum