Campbell, James
Rifleman
No. 105, ‘A’ Company, 13th Battalion, Royal Irish Rifles
Killed in action on Thursday 16 August 1917 (aged 25)
No known grave
Commemorated:
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium (Panel 138 to 140 & 162 to 162A & 163A)
Donaghadee and District War Memorial
Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Church
BIOGRAPHY
In the Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 – 1919 database it is recorded that Rifleman James Campbell (No. 105) was born in Donaghadee, lived in Donaghadee and enlisted in Belfast. He served with the 13th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles in 108th Brigade of the 36th (Ulster) Division and was 25 when he was killed in action on 16 August 1917 at Langemarck during the Third Battle of Ypres.
Initially Rifleman James Campbell (No. 105) was posted as missing in action and when his wife Maggie was officially informed in April 1918 that James must be presumed to have been killed in action she and their children were living at 16 West Street, Newtownards.
James Campbell and Maggie Reid were married on 21 May 1915 in Newtownards Parish Church of Ireland Church (St Mark’s). James Campbell (aged 23), a soldier (No. 105) from Clandeboye Camp, was a son of James Campbell (a sailor). Maggie Reid (aged 20) from Newtownards was a daughter of Samuel James Reid (a labourer).
Maggie Campbell placed a For King and Country notice in the Newtownards Chronicle and it contained the verse:
The news was sad, the blow was hard,
God’s will it must be done;
With a manly heart he did his part,
My dear beloved James.
He fell at his post, like a soldier brave,
He answered his Master’s call;
He sleeps far away in a hero’s grave,
For his country’s cause he did fall.
In the pride of life death claimed him,
In the pride of his manhood days;
None knew him but to love him,
None mentioned his name but with praise.
In August 1918 Maggie placed an Our Heroes – In Memoriam notice in the Newtownards Chronicle and it contained the verse:
One by one the links are slipping,
One by one our heroes fall;
And you, my darling husband,
Have answered the great Roll Call.
A loving father, true and kind,
Loved by those he left behind,
Forget him! No, we never will.
As time rolls on we love him still.
Rifleman James Campbell (No. 105) has no known grave and he is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium; on Donaghadee and District War Memorial and in Donaghadee Parish Church of Ireland Church.