Frederick William Campbell

Holding back a German counter-attack under fire at Givenchy.

Frederick William Campbell grew up in the farming country around Mount Forest, Ontario, the son of Ephraim and Esther Campbell. Educated locally, he became a farmer and horse breeder. He also served his community as a public-school trustee in Normanby and a director of the Mount Forest Agricultural Society. In November 1903 he married Margaret Annie MacGillivray; they had a son and two daughters.

His military experience began in the local militia, the Wellington Rifles, in the 1880s. During the South African War he served from November 1899 to November 1900 with the machine-gun section of the 2nd (Special Service) Battalion, The Royal Canadian Regiment. He earned the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps. Returning to farming, he continued his militia service and became an officer. By the outbreak of the First World War, he brought years of practical soldiering and experience with machine guns to the new Canadian Expeditionary Force.

Campbell attested at Valcartier on 23 September 1914 and became the machine-gun officer of the 1st Battalion, CEF, with the rank of lieutenant. He crossed to England with the first Canadian contingent that autumn, trained on Salisbury Plain and embarked for France on 9 February 1915. His battalion served in the Ypres fighting that spring before moving south to the battles around Festubert and Givenchy.

On 15 June 1915, his birthday, Campbell took two machine guns forward during the attack at Givenchy. One reached the German first line, where he maintained his position despite heavy rifle, machine-gun and grenade fire. Almost his entire detachment was killed or wounded. When the Canadian supply of grenades ran out and the position became untenable, he moved the remaining gun farther forward into an exposed position to protect the withdrawal. With a surviving gunner supporting the weapon on his back, Campbell fired approximately 1,000 rounds and checked the German counter-attack.

During the withdrawal he suffered a gunshot wound that fractured his right thigh. Evacuated from the battlefield, he was admitted to No. 7 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne on 17 June. Infection followed, and he died of his wounds on 19 June 1915, four days after the action. He was buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, leaving his wife and children in Ontario. His Victoria Cross was announced after his death. His eventual rank of temporary captain was also confirmed posthumously, with effect from 23 April 1915; the official Victoria Cross citation retained his rank of lieutenant.

Official Victoria Cross citation

Lieutenant Frederick William Campbell, 1st Canadian Battalion.

For most conspicuous bravery on 15th June, 1915, during the action at Givenchy.

Lieutenant Campbell took two machine-guns over the parapet, arrived at the German first line with one gun, and maintained his position there, under very heavy rifle, machine-gun, and bomb fire, notwithstanding the fact that almost the whole of his detachment had then been killed or wounded.

When our supply of bombs had become exhausted, this Officer advanced his gun still further to an exposed position, and, by firing about 1,000 rounds, succeeded in holding back the enemy's counter-attack.

This very gallant Officer was subsequently wounded, and has since died.