29 April 1917 : 2nd Lieut. John Guy Campbell

John Campbell was born 27 August 1896

Only son of John (an accountant) and Agnes (née Guy) of 48 Granville Park, Blackheath. At the 1901 Census, John and his older sister Annie lived with their parents and aunt. 

48 Granville Park, Blackheath, September 2020 (c) Google Street View 2021

John was educated at Christ’s Hospital and then worked for the Union Bank of Australia.

Brigadier General Watson of the 60th (2/2nd London) Division enters Jerusalem. Two Westminster Dragoons can be seen on the left.

5 August 1914 he joined the 2nd County of London Yeomanry (Westminster Dragoons) as a Trouper. He must have given a false age as he was still only 17. 

From 28 August John served in Egypt. He returned to England in August 1916.

St. John's Wood Barracks. 1917 Lt & Riding Master J.E.Hance of the RHA training brigade demonstrating jumping tchniques over the guns and a wire fence in the manege at St John's Wood Barracks

He then trained at the Royal Horse Artillery Cadet School, St. John’s Wood, then at Shoeburyness and was gazetted 2nd Lieut in the RFA 11 Feb 1917. 

From 19 April 1917 John served in France and Flanders.

Image Courtesy of Stephen Barker (CC-BY-NC-SA)

While on observation duty Lieutt.Campbell was killed in action at Monchy-le-Preux on 29 April 1917 by a bursting shell. He was 20 years old. 

Pension Card from John G Campbell (and his brother) from The Western Front Association digital archive on Fold3 by Ancestry

2nd Lieut. John Guy Campbell RGA 

29 April 1917 

We learn from the Pension Records that John had a brother Harold who served in the Great War and was killed in action on the 25th January 1915. 

Sources: Du Ruvingy’s Vol. iii; St.John's Wood Memories; England Census 1891, 1901, 1911; War Horse at Moncy-Le-Preux, Stephen Barker World War I Centenary Blog.