CAMPBELL, John Gibson
(Service number 14062)
| Aliases |
Jack |
| First Rank |
Rifleman |
Last Rank |
Rifleman |
Birth
| Date |
22 January 1889 |
Place of Birth |
Kingsdown, near Timaru |
Enlistment Information
| Date |
12 March 1916 |
Age |
27 yrs 2 mths |
| Address at Enlistment |
Kingsdown near Timaru |
| Occupation |
Farm hand |
| Previous Military Experience |
|
| Marital Status |
Single |
| Next of Kin |
James CAMPBELL (father), Kingsdown, near Timaru |
| Religion |
Church of England |
| Medical Information |
Height 5 feet 8 inches. Weight 144 lbs. Chest measurement 32-35 inches. Complexion dark. Eyes brown. Hair brown (dark). Sight and hearing good. Colour vision correct. Limbs and chest well formed. Full movement of joints. Heart and lungs normal. Teeth ? Had had lumbago. Free from hernia, varicocele, varicose veins, haemorrhoids, inveterate or contagious skin disease. Vaccinated. Good bodily and mental health. No slight defects. No fits. |
Military Service
| Served with |
NZ Armed Forces |
Served in |
Army |
| Military District |
|
Embarkation Information
| Body on Embarkation |
New Zealand Rifle Brigade |
| Unit, Squadron, or Ship |
5th Reinforcements 3rd Battalion, G Company |
| Date |
26 June 1916 |
| Transport |
Maunganui or Tahiti |
| Embarked From |
Wellington |
Destination |
Devonport, England |
| Other Units Served With |
|
| Last Unit Served With |
Rifle Brigade |
Military Awards
| Campaigns |
|
| Service Medals |
British War Medal; Victory Medal |
| Military Awards |
|
Death
| Date |
2 February 1960 |
Age |
71 yrs |
| Place of Death |
Timaru |
| Cause |
|
| Notices |
Timaru Herald, 3 February 1960 |
| Memorial or Cemetery |
Timaru Cemetery |
| Memorial Reference |
General Section, Row 1, Plot 37 |
| New Zealand Memorials |
|
Biographical Notes
John Gibson CAMPBELL was a son of James and Rebecca Ann (nee GIBSON) CAMPBELL, of Kingsdown. His brothers James Alexander CAMPBELL and Robert CAMPBELL also served in WWI. In early March 1916, along with Joseph HILL, John was tendered a complimentary social in the Kingsdown School before he left Kingsdown to go into training for the Front. Mr J. Craigie, M.P., gave a vigorous patriotic address before presenting John and Joseph with wristlet watches. Refreshments were supplied and a pleasant veing, with music, was enjoyed. At the December 1917 Kingsdown School picnic, Mr J. Craigie, M. P., complimented those present on their patriotism and made the observation that few districts in New Zealand, if any, were better represented at the front in proportion to thei population. At that date, 33 past pupils had gone to the Front and of the 31 survivors, all were still serving; among the names read out were the brothers John, James and Robert Campbell. John returned to New Zealand in 1919 by the "Tainui, but continued to serve until April 1920. In all he gave 4 years and 51 days of service. At the time of discharge John was in the Military Section of Dunedin Hospital. A later address was Cliffbrook, Cave, Timaru. John had a spell at Woodside Hospital in Dunedin in 1919. By 1928 he was farming at Cave. He died on 2 February 1960 in Timaru, to where he had retired, living with his sister Sarah FOOTE and her husband. His funeral at the Timaru Cemetery was attended by members of the South Canterbury RSA. In his Will, John made specific provision for erecting a tombstone to his memory. In March 1917, William CAMPBELL, brother of James, John and Robert, appealed against his call up on the ground of undue hardship - he already had three brothers at the front and two othere working on his father's farm; he was unable to sell or lease his own farm. He was twice granted a sine die adjournment.And in June 1917 his father appealed against the call up of another brother, Percival CAMPBELL, as Percival was most essential in the working of the farm, and James already had three sons at the front; he was financially able to employ labour but where could he get it?
Sources
Cenotaph Database [12 July 2014]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0022371) [13 July 2014]; Timaru Herald, 7 March 1916, 16 March 1917, 20 June 1917, 17 October 1917, 29 October 1917, 28 December 1917 (Papers Past) [12 & 20 July 2014]; Timaru Herald, 3 February 1960 (Timaru District Library) [14 July 2014]; Probate Record (Archives New Zealand, FamilySearch) 17 July 2014]
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