Private Norman Roland Campbell

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

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21 April 2022

An Original Anzac who served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Belmont Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

Private Norman Roland Campbell, 13th Battalion (Reg No-834), labourer from Belmont, New South Wales, was laid to rest at Belmont Cemetery about the 4th December 1960, age 71 (passed away on the 2nd December 1960). Roman Catholic Lawn - Row 8. Plot 49.

Born at Adamstown, New South Wales about 1889 to Alexander and Rachel Ann Campbell (unsure if married), Norman enlisted September 1914 at Rosebery Park Racecourse, N.S.W.

Wounded in action - 8.6.1915 (GSW or SW right lung, right loin, right shoulder, back, severe).

Invalided to England 8.8.1915.

Nothing located on Trove regarding enlistment, service, returning home, etc.

Norman was invalided home June 1916, being discharged medically unfit (GSW back) on the 8th September 1916.

Mr. Campbell’s name has been inscribed on the Belmont Presbyterian Church Roll of Honour (photo, unveiled on the 25th July 1915), Belmont Public School Roll of Honour (whereabouts unknown), Belmont Memorial Hall Roll of Honour (destroyed in Community Hall fire, date unknown), and the Charlestown Public School Honor Roll.

I had received information that possibly a small cross had been erected at the gravesite, so imagine my surprise when seeing a beautiful black headstone without Norman’s name being inscribed.

Any information regarding the inscriptions of deceased would be greatly appreciated.

I cannot absolutely ascertain that Norman is resting here without a funeral notice, so any information would be greatly appreciated.

Norman’s service and sacrifice for God, King & Country has been remembered with a Plaque at the New South Wales Garden of Remembrance, Hawthorne Avenue, Rookwood, N.S.W.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

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.

Private James Campbell

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

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29 March 2022

Served and suffered during The Great War, resting at Sandgate Cemetery, have I been forgotten?

68 years ago today, on the Monday afternoon of the 29th March 1954, Private James Campbell, 3rd Battalion (Reg No-2334), coal miner from Teralba Road, West Wallsend, New South Wales and 5 James Street, Hamilton, N.S.W., was laid to rest at Sandgate Cemetery, age 63. METHODIST 4-24. 55.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134917362 - funeral notice does not state service.

Born at Lambton, New South Wales on the 21st September 1890 to James and Elizabeth Campbell; husband of Doris V Campbell nee Clapham (married 1917, West Wallsend, N.S.W., died?), James enlisted May 1915 at Liverpool, N.S.W.

Admitted to hospital 14.1.1916 (ear trouble, mild, shell shock?).

James was invalided home July 1917, being discharged medically unfit (deafness) on the 10th August 1917.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134860306 - welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134860104 - public welcome home and presentation by the Young Girls' League at the Federal Hall, West Wallsend.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article134864179 - public welcome home by the Patriotic Committee at the West Wallsend School of Arts.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122216450 - public welcome home.

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article122220722 - a social and welcome home and presentation at the Federal Hall, West Wallsend.

Mr. Campbell’s name has been inscribed on the West Wallsend and District Soldier's Memorial (photos, unveiled on the 28th January 1922, 288 names inscribed, 59 Fallen) and The Capt. Clarence Smith Jeffries (V.C.) and Pte. William Matthew Currey (V.C.) Memorial Wall. Name not inscribed on the West Wallsend Methodist Church Roll of Honour.

I located James resting in an unmarked grave, another Forgotten Digger of The Great War, so November 2014 I placed a cross at the gravesite in remembrance of his service and sacrifice for God, King & Country.

I will be submitting an application to DVA asking for a Commonwealth War Graves Plaque, curbing and marble chip to restore Honour and Dignity to Jas.

Younger brother William (35th Battalion, Reg No-752, born 1893, West Wallsend, N.S.W., died?, name inscribed on the West Wallsend Methodist Church Roll of Honour)) also served 1st A.I.F.

Younger brother David Aitken (Royal Garrison Artillery, 36th Brigade, Reg No-178, born 1895, West Wallsend, N.S.W., died 7.7.1968, Hamilton, N.S.W., Plaque in New South Wales Garden of Remembrance) also served 1st A.I.F.

Contact with descendants would be greatly appreciated.

Lest We Forget.

Celebrating St Patrick's Day

Trove tells us that Toronto and Spier's or Speers Point were destinations for St Patrick's Day picnics for people from Maitland and Newcastle in the early 1900s but finding articles about celebrations from Lake Macquarie parishes has proved difficult.

Some digging on Trove has found the following articles.

1940 'CATHOLIC CHURCH SPORTS AT WANGI', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 21 March, p. 11. , viewed 17 Mar 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140530046

1941 'Miller's Forest Presentation', Newcastle Morning Herald and Miners' Advocate (NSW : 1876 - 1954), 20 March, p. 9. , viewed 17 Mar 2021, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140434512

We would love to hear some St Patrick's Day reminiscences from locals in Lake Macquarie.