Gordon Campbell (Royal Navy officer)

Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell, VC, DSO & Two Bars (6 January 1886 – 3 October 1953) was a British naval officer, writer, politician and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre and appointed a chevalier of the Légion d'honneur for his actions during the First World War.[1]

Gordon Campbell
Captain Gordon Campbell
Born	6 January 1886 Croydon, Surrey
Died	3 October 1953 (aged 67) Isleworth, Middlesex
Buried	All Saints Churchyard, Crondall
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	Royal Navy
Years of service	1900–1929
Rank	Vice Admiral
Commands held	HMS Farnborough HMS Dunraven HMS Tiger
Battles/wars	First World War
Awards	Victoria Cross Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Légion d'honneur (France) Croix de Guerre (France)
Relations	Sir Edward Campbell, 1st Baronet (brother) Brigadier Lorne MacLaine Campbell VC (nephew)
Other work	Member of Parliament Writer

Early life and career

Born on 6 January 1886, he was educated at Dulwich College, which he attended between 1898 and 1900. He then joined the Royal Navy and was in October 1902 posted as a midshipman to the battleship HMS Irresistible serving in the Mediterranean Sea.[2] He was promoted to lieutenant in 1907 and to commander in March 1916. It was during the First World War that he was awarded the Victoria Cross for the following action.[3]

On 17 February 1917 in the north Atlantic, Commander Campbell, commanding HMS Farnborough (Q.5) (one of the "mystery" Q ships) sighted a torpedo track. He altered course and allowed the torpedo to hit Q.5 aft by the engine-room bulkhead. The 'Panic party' got away convincingly, followed by the U-boat. When the submarine had fully surfaced and was within 100 yards of Q.5—badly damaged and now lying very low in the water—the commander gave the order to fire. Almost all of the 45 shells fired hit the SM U-83 which sank. Q.5 was taken in tow just in time and was safely beached. On 22 March 1916, another U-boat, SM U-68 was sunk by Farnborough.

Campbell also commanded HMS Dunraven during the action of 8 August 1917 when she was sunk by SM UC-71.[4] Victoria Crosses were awarded to two members of the crew who were selected by ballot from amongst the crew of Dunraven, Lieutenant Charles George Bonner and Petty Officer Ernest Herbert Pitcher. Campbell received his second Bar to his Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[5]

Later life

Campbell later achieved the rank of vice admiral. He commanded the battlecruiser HMS Tiger 1925–27 and served as Naval Aide-de-Camp to George V 1928–29. In 1931, he was elected as National Member of Parliament for Burnley, defeating the Labour leader, Arthur Henderson. In 1935, however, standing as a National Liberal, he lost his seat.

In the Second World War he re-entered the Royal Navy in the rank of Commander and was responsible for anti-invasion measures around Padstow.[6]

Campbell wrote several publications, including the successful My Mystery Ships. His brother, Sir Edward Campbell, was also a Member of Parliament.

His Victoria Cross is held at his old school, Dulwich College.

References

1. "Campbell, Gordon (1886–1953), naval officer". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32263. Retrieved 3 July 2020.
2. "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times (36902). London. 18 October 1902. p. 9.
3. "No. 30029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 April 1917. p. 3819.
4. Helgason, Guðmundur. "WWI U-boats: UC-71". U-Boat War in World War I. Uboat.net. Retrieved 15 April 2009.
5. Gazette Issue 30363 published on the 30 October 1917 p11315
6. Tempting the Fates,17 Aug 200, Dare Wilson

Sources

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - The Naval VCs (Stephen Snelling, 2002)

External links

• Gordon Campbell at Find a Grave
• Hansard 1803–2005: contributions in Parliament by Gordon Campbell
• Winchester, Clarence, ed. (1937). "Salute to a Hero". Shipping Wonders of the World. pp. 129–135. illustrated account of Gordon Campbell, "the most famous Q-ship officer"