Campbell, Frederick
Rifleman
No. 249, 8th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Sunday 2 July 1916 (aged 26)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 15 A and 15 B)
Knock Methodist Church
Holywood Orange Lodges Memorial Plaque
Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (Page 84)
Brother of Rifleman William Henry Campbell (No. 548)
Brother of Sergeant Hugh Campbell (No. 12650)
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Rifleman Frederick Campbell (No. 249) was born in Ballymacarrett and enlisted in Belfast.
Rifleman Frederick Campbell (No. 249) served with the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 107th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) Debt of Honour Website it is recorded that he died on 2 July 1916, the second day of the Battle of the Somme. In the heat of battle, the 8th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles did not make a casualty return on 1 July 1916 and many military historians agree that those 8th Battalion casualties listed on the 2 July return were killed in action on 1 July.
In the Army Register of Soldiers’ Effects, the name of Rifleman Frederick Campbell’s widow is recorded as Sarah.
Frederick Campbell and Sarah Young were married on 2 April 1912 in St Mark’s Church of Ireland Church, Dundela, Belfast. Frederick Campbell (aged 22), a gardener from Belmont, Belfast was a son of Hugh Campbell, a labourer. Sarah Young (aged 23) from 184 Hyndman Street, Belfast was a daughter of John Young, a holder.
Frederick and Sarah Campbell (nee Young) had at least two children:
Hugh (born 19 December 1912 at 107 East Bread Street, Belfast)
Catherine (born 15 March 1914 at 107 East Bread Street, Belfast)
Rifleman Frederick Campbell (No. 249) has no known grave, and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial in France, on the War Memorial tablet in Knock Methodist Church Belfast; on the Holywood Orange Lodges Memorial Plaque, and in the Journey of Remembering Belfast Book of Honour (Page 84).
Rifleman Frederick Campbell (No. 249) was born on 26 January 1890 in Ballymachan and he was a son of Hugh and Elizabeth (Lizzie, sometimes Eliza) Campbell (nee Lowry) who were married on 12 May 1882 in Ballygilbert Presbyterian Church. Hugh Campbell, a labourer from Belfast, was a son of Henry Campbell, a labourer. Elizabeth Lowry, a minor from Crawfordsburn, was a daughter of William Lowry, a labourer.
Hugh and Lizzie Campbell (nee Lowry) had six children, all boys:
William Henry (born 3 June 1883 in Knocknagoney)
James (born 14 August 1884 in Knocknagoney)
Hugh (born 11 March 1887 in Ballymachan; died of whooping cough 28 February 1890)
Frederick (born 26 January 1890 in Ballymachan)
Hugh (born 14 June 1895 in Ballymachan)
Samuel (born 10 November 1900 in Glen Close, Ballymachan)
Two of Frederick Campbell’s brothers were also killed in the Great War:
Sergeant Hugh Campbell (No. 12650)
Rifleman William Henry Campbell (No. 548)