Brigadier Lorne MacLaine Campbell, (22 July 1902 – 25 May 1991) was a British Army officer and a Scottish 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.

Early life

Lorne MacLaine Campbell was born on 22 July 1902 in Airds, Argyll, Scotland, the eldest of three sons of Colonel Ian Campbell and Hilda Mary Wade. He was schooled at the Dulwich College Preparatory School, and then at Dulwich College in South London between 1915 and 1921 (as was his uncle and fellow recipient of the Victoria Cross, Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell). Between 1921 and 1925, he attended Merton College, Oxford, where he was President of the Junior Common Room and of the Myrmidon Club and graduated with a second class degree in Literae Humaniores, then under the command of his father. By 1939, Campbell was a major and second-in-command of the battalion.

Second World War

In August 1939, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Campbell's unit, the 8th (Argyllshire) Battalion, Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders was mobilised for war service. Serving as part of the 154th Infantry Brigade, which also included the 7th Battalion, Argylls and the 6th Battalion, Black Watch, of Major General Victor Fortune's 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, the battalion underwent months of training before departing for France as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in January 1940. During the Battle of France in May–June 1940 Campbell was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for gallant leadership during the 51st Division's withdrawal to the coast when, although most of the division was captured at Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Campbell and most of the 154th Brigade managed to reach Le Havre and were evacuated. He led the battalion, after El Alamein, throughout the Tunisian campaign, at El Agheila, in the capture of the Libyan port of Tripoli, Medenine, and Wadi Akarit, where he gained his Victoria Cross. On 28 April, shortly before the campaign came to an end, Campbell became acting commander of the 153rd Brigade.

Personal life

thumb|Lorne Campbell's grave, Warriston Cemetery.

In December 1935 Campbell married Amy Muriel Jordan Campbell, daughter of Alastair Campbell of Auchendarroch.

Campbell died at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Edinburgh on 25 May 1991, aged 88,

References

Bibliography

  • British Army Officers 1939−1945
  • Location of grave and VC medal (Edinburgh)
  • Generals of World War II