Campbell, Archibald Edward (Edward)

Private

No. 67491 London Regiment Royal Fusiliers

Killed in action on 18 September 1917 (aged 19)

Commemorated:

Comber and District War Memorial (as Edward Campbell)

Andrews Mill Memorial Plaque (as A. Edward Campbell)

Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s) (as Edward Campbell)

BIOGRAPHY

Archibald Edward Campbell was born on 27 August 1898 in Carnesure, Comber and he was a son of Archibald (Archie) and Ellen Campbell (nee Hewitt) who were married on 1 February 1896 in Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s).  Archibald Campbell from Carnesure was born in Scotland, he worked as a coachman and gardener and he was a son of Robert Campbell, a labourer.  Ellen Hewitt from Carnesure was born in County Cavan, she worked as a servant and she was a daughter of Edward Hewitt, a labourer.

When Archibald Edward Campbell’s birth was registered on 5 September 1898 only the forename Edward was registered.  Then, on 25 November 1898; in the column on his birth certificate headed Baptismal Name if added after Registration of Birth and Date the names Archibald Edward were registered along with the date.

Archie and Ellen Campbell (nee Hewitt) had five children:

Annie (born 4 November 1896 in Carnesure)

Archibald Edward (Edward, born 27 August 1898 in Carnesure)

Francis William (Frank, born 23 June 1900 in Knocknagoney)

Robert (born 24 October 1903 in Railway Street, Comber)

Ellen (born 3 February 1906 in Railway Street, Comber)

In 1901 the Campbell family was living in Belmont Road, Belfast.

Archie Campbell died of meningitis on 2 July 1906 (aged 34)

In 1911 the widowed Ellen Campbell and her children were living at 28 Railway Street, Comber.

Ellen Campbell worked as a charwoman and Edward (aged 12) worked as a mill boy.

The death of Private A.E. Campbell was reported in the 20 October 1917 edition of the Newtownards Chronicle under the headline Comber Fusilier Killed:

‘Mrs A Campbell, 28 Railway Street, Comber is in receipt of news that her son Private A.E. Campbell Royal Fusiliers has been killed in action.  Deceased enlisted since the outbreak of hostilities prior to which he was employed at the spinning mills of Messrs John Andrews & Company Ltd Comber’.

Private A. Edward Campbell was 19 when he was killed in action in 1917 and he is commemorated on Comber and District War Memorial (as Edward Campbell); on the Andrews Mill Memorial Plaque (as A. Edward Campbell) and as Edward Campbell on the Memorial Plaque in Comber Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mary’s).