Hugh Campbell

Menin Gate Memorial. Authors image

S/3373 Private

1st Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders, 81st Infantry Brigade, 27th Division

Age: 33

Date of Death: 10.5.15

Buried: Menin Gate Memorial Panel 42 to 44

Family history: Son of John and Elizabeth Campbell, Castleloan, Bo’ness. He was married to Annie, who resided at 9 Argyle Lane, Maryhill. They a daughter, Margaret, born on 6 October 1914. They had lived in Maryhill before they came to Bo’ness in 1904 and Hugh was employed as a miner at Kinneil Colliery. He enlisted on 2 September 1914 and landed in France in March 1915.

The action leading to his death

The Battalion was involved in the 1915 ‘Battle of Frezenberg Ridge’ in which the Germans tried to flatten the Ypres Salient and capture ground from the Allies. The German tactic on the 9 May, day two of their offensive, was to attack the 27th Division. At 5.30am they shelled the front line from Zwarteleen to the Ypres - Roulers railway an area that covered the entire front held by the division. They targeted the 80th Brigade holding the line straddling the Menin Road and the 81st Brigade which was holding the forward edge of Sanctuary Wood. At dawn on the 10 May the bombardment continued with the focus being on the junction between the 80th and 81st Brigades.

Trench map showing the location of the action

At 1.30pm the Germans commenced their attack in the area of the Menin Road which was defended by the 2nd Battalion Cameron Highlanders and supported by the 1st Battalion Royal Scots. The 1st Battalion Argyll’s, ’B’ Company came into the line to support the 4th King’s Royal Rifle Corps of the 80th Brigade. ‘D’ Company and two machine guns were in Railway Wood with ‘B’ and C’ Companies held in reserve. With the Germans now putting severe pressure on the line from Railway Wood to Sanctuary Wood the order was given to hold the line at all costs with the Battalion taking up a position between Bellewaarde Lake and Sanctuary Wood holding the line with the 2nd Cameronians and the 4th KRRC.

Medals

1915 Star, The British War Medal, Victory Medal

Private Hugh Campbell, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders Medal Index Card