A. S. Campbell
Service no. 203096
Private, The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment), 2nd/4th Battalion
Killed in action on 26 April 1918
Remembered at Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel
British Army Pension Records 1914-1920
Very soon after war broke out jeweller’s assistant Archibald Samuel Campbell took himself to the recruiting office at Battersea and offered himself to the Wiltshire Regiment. They gave him a number, 13710, and measured him up: 5 feet 2 inches, 110 pounds and 34 inch chest. Puny by our standards, but not exceptional then. Campbell was described as having a sallow complexion, blue eyes and light brown hair. His overall physical development was judged to be “good”.
However, only 41 days later he was discharged under Para 392 (ii) King’s Regulations ‘ “not being likely to become an efficient soldier”. There are no more details.
Campbell must have re-enlisted or have been called up again, this time joining the Queen’s Regiment, surviving to 26 April 1918 when he was killed in action and buried in the war cemetery in Jerusalem (now in Israel).
Information from the 1911 census
In 1911 Archibald Samuel Campbell was a student living at 193 Wandsworth Road with his parents and brother. The family had 2 rooms. Thomas S. Campbell, 48, was a messenger for the Admiralty. He was born in Chelsea, London. Humilia Campbell, 37, was born in Lichfield, Staffordshire. Archibald, then 15, was born in Langton Herring, Dorset. His younger brother, Edgar L. Campbell, 6, was born in Battersea. Humilia and Thomas had 3 children, with only Archibald and Edgar surviving to 1911.
