Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

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Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Robert CAMPBELL (6/4007) was born at Kingsdaown in 1894, a son of James and Rebecca Ann (nee GIBSON) CAMPBELL of Kingsdown. His mother arrived with her family on the Strathallan. His father acquired his farm at Kingsdown, which Robert farmed, almost a hundred years before Robert's death; He was educated at the Kingsdown School and Timaru Boys High School. His brothers James Alexander GIBSON and John Gibson CAMPBELL also served in WWI. Robert and his brother James were named among 17 past pupils of Kingsdown School at the Front or preparing to go, at the school's picnic and prize day in December 1915. Mr Craigie, M.P. and past pupil, referred to the Great War as "the most momentous war of all history" and noted that Kingsdown, in proportion to its population, had nobly done its share in sending men. . 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. Robert returned to New Zealand on the "Remuera", leaving on 7 May 1919 and arriving on 7 August 1919. From 4 February 1918 to 28 March 1918 he attended the NCO's School of Instructors and qualified. Robert was appointed temporary corporal on the 6 August 1918, and on 13 November 1918 he was promoted to sergeant. . On 31 October 1918 he was granted the rank of Temporary Sergeant while he was employed as an Instructor. During WWII he was appointed to a Commission, on 12 November 1941. He served in the Home Guard, within Battalion on 30 April 1942, with an Inter Battalion Transfer on 21 January 1943. And he was posted to the Reserve of Officers, effective from 1 January 1944. In March 1917, William CAMPBELL, brother of James, John and Robert, appealed aginst 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 wice granted a sine die adjournment. Robert was very involved in community affairs - Levels County Council (15 years service), school committee, National Party electoral branch, often serving as chairman or vice-chairman. During the Second World War he was active in the local Home Guard unit where he was second-in-command. Also a keen sportsman he was patron of the Otipua Miniature Rifle Club and in his younger days was especially interested in wallaby and duck shooting. A few years after retiring from farming he moved into Timaru where he died in 1973. At his funeral he was honoured by members of the local RSA.

Sources

Cenotaph Database [10 July 2014]; N Z Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5530 0022435) [11 July 2014]; Timaru Herald, 9 July 1973 (Death Notice), 10 July 1973 (Obituary) (Timaru District Library) [14 July 2014]; Timaru Herald, 30 December 1915, 10 October 1916, 16 March 1917, 22 June 1917, 23 June 1917, 17 October 1917, 28 December 1917 (Papers Past) [11, 12 & 20 July 2014]; Burial record Timaru Cemetery (Timaru District Council) [11 July 2014]; Timaru Herald, 9 July 1973, 10 July 1973 (Timaru District Library) [14 July 2014]

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