Quote:
Originally Posted by Coquet
Just been reminded that Simonsen has a list of Great War Gallantry Medallists (14 names) in his book. Again this is top heavy in DCMs suggesting more MMs 'out there'
I'll edit this post with the names and LG references as I find them]
[
Simonsen records a Sapper J.R. Campbell, DCM 1915 + Bar 1920
Closest match is:
2. LG 3/6/1915 DCM, LG 14/3/1916 Bar to DCM
17751 A.2/Cpl. J.P. Campbell 5th Field Co Royal Engineers. (home town not published)
|
Newspaper archive is finally moving forward so a bit of information for Campbell:
Newcastle Journal 5 June 1917:
"The Amble Picture Hall was filled with an enthusiastic gathering to do honour to a local soldier...who had been awarded the DCM and on a later occasion with a clasp, for gallantry in the field......Sergeant James P Campbell, of the Royal Engineers...
He got the DCM for saving a comrade. It was in the operations in March 1915, the Engineers had to advance to cut the wires. Campbell had cut these wires when the Germans came down upon them, and the British had to retreat; but Campbell did not do so, for he saw a comrade wounded, and he went back, and under heavy machine gun fire from the Germans, carried and dragged his comrade into safety and saved his life.
The clasp was awarded him for a brave action 6 months later. He was in a trench when a bomb from the Germans fell on the ground between him and an officer. There were many other men in the trench. It was the work of an instant, but Sergt Campbell in that instant seized the bomb and threw it over the parapet....
Campbell had been out since Aug 1914. He went out with one f the first boats with the first Expeditionary Force, and he had come through it all unwounded....."