Sapper Richard Campbell

Thanks to Gary Mitchell for granting us permission to share his Facebook posts on our blog

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9th April 2022

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Belmont Cemetery, not forgotten.

Sapper Richard Campbell, 1st Australian Tunnelling Company (Reg No-5504), miner from Killingworth, New South Wales and 99 Parbury Road, South Swansea, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Belmont Cemetery on the Wednesday afternoon of the 2nd July 1952, age 60. Roman Catholic Old - Row C. Plot 11.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133196368 - funeral notice does not state service.

Born at Clifton, New South Wales on the 4th August 1891 to Thomas and Margaret Campbell; husband of Hannah E Campbell nee McWilliams (married 1912, Lambton, N.S.W., died 1921, Wallsend, N.S.W.) and Eva Marie Campbell nee? (married?, died 10.8.1988, age 83, sleeping here), Richard enlisted May 1916 with the Tunnelling Company Reinforcements at Waratah, N.S.W.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133878484 - report of send off and presentation at the Killingworth Institute Hall.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134866302 - report of letter home from Richard.

Admitted to hospital 4.5.1918 (influenza), 12.6.1918 (not stated), 6.8.1918 (not stated).

Invalided to England 9.8.1918.

Richard was invalided home February 1919, being discharged medically unfit on the 30th March 1919.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139653479 - report that Richard is returning home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article139644449 - welcome home at the Killingworth Institute Hall.

Mr. Campbell’s name has been inscribed on the Killingworth Soldiers' Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 1st July 1922, 88 names inscribed, 20 Fallen, refurbished 2018? - http://www.warmemorialsregister.nsw.gov.au/.../killingwor...).

There is no indication inscribed on Richard’s grave plaque of his service with the 1st A.I.F., so I have placed a 1914-1918 WAR label in remembrance of his sacrifice for God, King & Country.

Many thanks to Richard's Grandson Barry Copas for the photos and family history, and maybe able to provide more information regarding marriages, etc.

My Grandfather, Richard Campbell is resting at Belmont Cemetery. Sapper Richard Campbell (5504), 1st Australian Tunnelling Company, died 30th of June 1952, aged 60. He and his third wife are buried in the RC Section. I have confirmed that he was working at Hill 60 at Messines when the tunnels were detonated. (unfortunately, he wasn't mentioned in the movie!).

Lest We Forget.