Campbell, Henry

Long Service and Good Conduct Medal

Ex-Sergeant

No. 1400314, Royal Garrison Artillery

Died of disease on Sunday 12 October 1924 (aged 42)

Buried:

Old Churchyard Comber

Commemorated:

Newtownards and District War Memorial

BIOGRAPHY

The name Henry Campbell is listed on Newtownards and District War Memorial and in the booklet produced for the Unveiling and Dedication Ceremony held on Saturday 26 May 1934 he is described as a Sergeant in the Royal Garrison Artillery.  The organising committee of the day decided to include the names of ex-servicemen who died up to that date from what they considered to be war related causes, whether as the result of wounds or disease.

Henry Campbell was 42 when he died of malaria (4 days) and a cerebral embolism (24 hours) on Sunday 12 October 1924 in Newtownards Hospital.  A bachelor, late of 91 Mark Street, Newtownards, he was described on his death certificate as an Army Pensioner.

Henry Campbell stated that he was 18 years and 2 months old and had worked as a labourer when he enlisted in Belfast on 13 November 1899.  It was noted in his attestation papers that he was 5 feet 6¼ inches tall with a ruddy complexion, brown eyes and brown hair and he had a scar on the back of his right heel.

Henry Campbell served with the Royal Garrison Artillery (No. 1400314) and he was a Sergeant when he was discharged on 15 November 1920 at Dover on termination of his second period of engagement.  His home address was noted to be 91 Mark Street, Newtownards and his total period of service was 21 years and 3 days.

Henry Campbell served at Home from 1899 until 1906; in India from 1906 until 1916; in Mesopotamia from 1916 until 1917 and at Home from 1917 until 1920.

Sergeant Henry Campbell (No. 1400314) was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal.

Henry Campbell was born on 14 July 1882 at Ballymiscaw, Holywood and he was a son of James and Sarah Campbell (nee Morrison) who were married on 14 September 1868 in Great Victoria Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast.  James Campbell, a labourer from Ballymaglaff, was a son of James Campbell, a labourer.  Sarah Morrison from Ballymaglaff was a daughter of Samuel Morrison, a labourer.

In 1901 the Campbell family lived in Mill Street, Newtownards and in 1911 at 91 Mark Street, Newtownards.

James Campbell worked as a labourer and he and Sarah had ten children:

William Gibson (born 4 December 1869 at Ballystockart, Newtownards)

Margaret (Maggie, born 28 February 1872 at Ballylisbredan)

John (born 18 October 1874 at Ballylisbredan)

Samuel (born 12 March 1877 at Ballylisbredan)

Alexander (born 5 April 1879 at Ballylisbredan)

Jane Emma Rugg (born 29 May 1881 at Dundonald)

Henry (born 14 July 1882 at Ballymiscaw, Holywood)

Unnamed male child (born 17 November 1884 at Ballymaglaff)

Charles (born 21 February 1886 at Greengraves, Newtownards)

Eliza (born 20 June 1888 at Greengraves, Newtownards)

Their father, James, died of acute pneumonia at Greengraves, Newtownards on 28 August 1892 (aged 45).  Their mother, Sarah, worked as an embroiderer.

After ex-Sergeant Henry Campbell died on 12 October 1924 his mother Sarah placed a death notice in the Belfast Newsletter newspaper.  In it she stated that Henry would be buried in the Old Churchyard, Comber on Tuesday 14 October at 2.00 pm.  There was another death notice placed by the Farmers’ Masonic Lodge No. 1000, Newtownards requesting members to attend the funeral of their late esteemed Brother.

Ex-Sergeant Henry Campbell is commemorated on Newtownards and District War Memorial.