The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

The Saltcoats memorial. The photo was taken a few years ago and I hope the rifle will have been repaired since then.

Winner of the VC Ken Campbell came from Saltcoats and there are some good passages on his story in the book 'The Ship-Busters' by Ralph Barker. Telling of the early days of 22 squadron, an anti-ship force armed with torpedo carrying Beauforts it says:
"In October (1940), three new pilots took their places on the squadron who were to rival the established aces and who between them were to win five decorations in the next two years, including a VC. They were Jimmy Hyde, Ken Campbell and Pat Gibbs...H.P. Campbell was a 24 year-old Scot from Saltcoats, Ayrshire, who entered the R.A.F. soon after the outbreak of war from the Cambridge University Air Squadron. He soon stood out as a pilot of unusual aggression and will, with all the qualities of the leader. (p.42)"
The book only describes Campbell as a Scot but I have been told he was a Canadian serving with the R.C.A.F.. If anyone can clear this up I'd be interested to hear.
The book later tells of Campbell's attack on the Scharnhorst at Brest Harbour. The book seems to be long out of print so I'll download each of the relevant pages below.

jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

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jamiemcginlay · Joined: 20 Dec 2006 Posts: 930 Location: Glasgow

And finally a photograph of Ken Campbell

spoons · Posted: Wed Dec 05, 2007 6:22 pm Post subject:

UKNIWM Ref: 54010

UKNIWM has the OS Map Ref as NS 243 415

We could do with some close up photos of the panels if anyone is up that way.

alexmaclennan · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 6:34 am Post subject: Saltcoats WM photos from 2007

alex
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alex maclennan

spoons · Posted: Wed Dec 12, 2007 8:32 am Post subject:

Superb photos Very Happy

\Paul

David McNay · Posted: Sun Mar 23, 2008 12:16 am Post subject:

Unveiled by the Marchiness of Ailsa on 27th May 1922.

A short clip of the unveiling can be viewed at the Scottish Screen Archive:

http://ssa.nls.uk/index.cfm

Reference number for the clip is 1329

Findlay Turner · Joined: 13 Dec 2008 Posts: 2

I note reference to Kenneth Campbell VC in connection with the Civic Memorials at Saltcoats and Stevenston Ayrshire.
Campbell was born in Saltcoats son of James Campbell WS local solicitor and bank agent. At the time of his death the family had become resident at Kerelaw House Stevenston thus presumably justification for his name appearing on both memorials.
There is no question, as suggested,of him being Canadian although it seems one of his crewmates was.
Campbell was educated at Ardrossan Academy, where his name appears on the school memorial, Sedbergh School and Cambridge University where he had graduated B.A. before active service.
Findlay Turner
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Findlay Turner

dhubthaigh · Posted: Tue May 12, 2009 3:06 pm Post subject:

A Bevento Piacentini commemorated - no sign SNWM/CWGC, Italian Forces ?

DelBoy · Posted: Wed Aug 17, 2011 12:47 am Post subject: L.Cpl. Andrew Wilson Service

Lance Corporal Service may well be the first Saltcoats casualty of the war.

(Glasgow Herald 7th September 1914)
"At Cupar on Saturday Andrew Service, a young trooper in the Ayrshire Yeomanry, was exercising a horse which had been impressed for service, when the animal bolted.
It carreered through North Union Street with Service in the saddle endeavoring to pull it up. In trying to negotiate the turn into West Port at full speed the horse slipped and came down, throwing Service over its head. The riders skull was fractured, and Dr Robertson, of Prestwick, the regimental surgeon, who was hurriedly called, Pronounced life extinct."

(Glasgow Herald 8th September 1914)
"Accidentally killed at Cupar, Fife, on the 5th September, Lance-Corporal Andrew W. Service, Ayrshire Yeomanry. Youngest son of William Service, Hamilton street, Saltcoats"

According to his DC he fractured his skull when thrown from a horse.

CWGC
Name: SERVICE, ANDREW WILSON
Initials: A W
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Lance Corporal
Regiment/Service: Ayrshire Yeomanry
Age: 33
Date of Death: 05/09/1914
Service No: 1267
Additional information: Son of the late William and Margaret Stirrat Wilson Service. Born at Saltcoats.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: N. B. 556.
Cemetery: ARDROSSAN CEMETERY

SNWM
Surname: SERVICE
Firstname: Andrew Wilson
Service Number: 1267
Date Death: 05/09/1914
Place of birth: Saltcoats
SNWM roll: AYRSHIRE YEOMANRY
Rank: L/Cpl
Theatre of death: Home.