| Campbell | Duncan Frederick | | Lieutenant | CAMPBELL, DUNCAN FREDERICK, Lieutenant, was born 28 April, 1876. He was gazetted to the Lancashire Fusiliers, 23 November 1898; became Lieutenant 27 September 1899. He served in the South African War, 1899-1901, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, including operations of 17 to 24 January 1900 (wounded, 20 January), and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 February 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz. Operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900. Operations in Natal, March to June, 1900, including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June). Operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900. Operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900. Operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900 to January 1901. Served as Adjutant, 2nd Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers. He was mentioned in Despatches (Sir R H Buller, 30 March, 19 June and 19 November 1900 [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]); received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "Duncan Frederick Campbell, Lieutenant, Lancashire Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was promoted to Captain 5 October 1901; transferred to the Royal Highlanders 13 June, 1908. He was Adjutant, Volunteers, 6 May 1904 to 31 March 1908, and Adjutant, Territorial Force, 1 April 1908. He retired 13 July 1910. Captain Campbell served during the European War, as Lieutenant Colonel, Territorial Force Battalion West Riding Regiment. He died 4 September 1916, and was buried at Kilmarnock, several prominent Unionists attending his funeral. An obituary notice said: "We regret to announce the death, after a few days' illness, of Colonel Duncan F Campbell, who had represented North Ayrshire in the Unionist interest since 1911. He entered the House of Commons in that year, at a by-election, defeating Mr A M Anderson (now Lord Anderson), who sought re-election on being appointed Solicitor-General. Colonel Campbell, who was born in 1876, entered the Black Watch in 1908, and fought through the South African War from 1899 to 1901. He was in the operations for the relief of Ladysmith, and afterwards took part in many other famous actions. He did not escape scathless. He recovered, however, from his wounds, won the DSO, and had also the Queen's Medal with six clasps. He was thrice mentioned in the Despatches of Sir Redvers Buller. Colonel Campbell, who had retired in 1910, rejoined his old regiment for the war with Germany, and saw much service. For a time he was attached to the Gordon Highlanders, and afterwards received the rank of Lieutenant Colonel for service with the Duke of Wellington's Regiment - the West Ridings. His death recalls an interesting incident in the House of Commons in January last, when the gallant officer entered an indignant protest against what he termed 'the voluminous verbiage' of a group of members below the Ministerial gangway. 'Get on with the war' he demanded, 'and finish everything that interferes with the progress of the war'. 'If I had had the member for Hanley (Mr Outhwaite) in my battalion, 'he added', he would have been strung up by the thumbs before he had been there half an hour'. Mr Outhwaite inquired: 'How many of your battalion would it take to do it?' Colonel Campbell replied: 'I would leave that task to myself, even though I have only one arm, having lost, the use of the other in a task which the member for Hanley would not think of attempting or daring to risk', a statement which naturally evoked loud cheers".
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Lancashire Fusiliers |
