Vice admiral Gordon Campbell, (6 January 1886 – 3 October 1953) was a British naval officer, writer, politician and a recipient of the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
, 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
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
for his actions during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
Early life and career
Born on 6 January 1886 to
Frederick Campbell, he was educated at
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is a 2–19 Independent school (United Kingdom), independent, Day school, day and boarding school for Single-sex education, boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a Public school (United Kingdom), public school, it began as the Col ...
, which he attended between 1898 and 1900. He then joined the
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against ...
and was in October 1902 posted as a
midshipman to the battleship serving in the
Mediterranean Sea
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the ...
. He was promoted to
lieutenant
A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations.
The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often ...
in 1907 and to
commander in March 1916. It was during the
First World War
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
that he was awarded the
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
for the following action:
Campbell also commanded during the action of 8 August 1917 when she was sunk by
SM ''UC-71''.
Victoria Crosses
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
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
The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, ty ...
(DSO).
Later life
Campbell later achieved the rank of
vice admiral. He commanded the battlecruiser from 1925 to 1927 and served as Naval
Aide-de-Camp to
George V
George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until his death in 1936.
Born during the reign of his grandmother Qu ...
from 1928 to 1929. In 1931, he was elected as
National Member of Parliament
A member of parliament (MP) is the representative in parliament of the people who live in their electoral district. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, this term refers only to members of the lower house since upper house members o ...
for
Burnley
Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2001 population of 73,021. It is north of Manchester and east of Preston, Lancashire, Preston, at the confluence of the River C ...
, defeating the
Labour leader,
Arthur Henderson
Arthur Henderson (13 September 1863 – 20 October 1935) was a British iron moulder and Labour politician. He was the first Labour cabinet minister, won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1934 and, uniquely, served three separate terms as Leader of th ...
. In 1935, however, standing as a
National Liberal
National liberalism is a variant of liberalism, combining liberal policies and issues with elements of nationalism. Historically, national liberalism has also been used in the same meaning as conservative liberalism (right-liberalism).
A seri ...
, he lost his seat.
In the Second World War, Campbell was recalled to the Royal Navy and, serving in the rank of
commander, was responsible for anti-invasion measures around
Padstow
Padstow (; kw, Lannwedhenek) is a town, civil parish and fishing port on the north coast of Cornwall, England. The town is situated on the west bank of the River Camel estuary approximately northwest of Wadebridge, northwest of Bodmin and ...
.
[Tempting the Fates,17 Aug 200, Dare Wilson]
Campbell wrote several publications, including the successful ''My Mystery Ships''. His brother,
Sir Edward Campbell, 1st Baronet, was also a Member of Parliament.
His
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for valour "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces and may be awarded posthumously. It was previously ...
is held at his old school,
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is a 2–19 Independent school (United Kingdom), independent, Day school, day and boarding school for Single-sex education, boys in Dulwich, London, England. As a Public school (United Kingdom), public school, it began as the Col ...
.
References
External links
*
*
* illustrated account of Gordon Campbell, "the most famous Q-ship officer"
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campbell, Gordon
1886 births
1953 deaths
Burials in Hampshire
British military writers
British World War I recipients of the Victoria Cross
Chevaliers of the Légion d'honneur
Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies
National Liberal Party (UK, 1931) politicians
People educated at Dulwich College
People from Croydon
Politics of Burnley
Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)
Royal Navy vice admirals
Royal Navy officers of World War I
Royal Navy recipients of the Victoria Cross
UK MPs 1931–1935
Military personnel from Surrey