The Scottish Military Research Group - Commemorations Project

spoons · Posted: Fri Jun 24, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: James Frazer Muir Campbell KOSB

Ken's recent query about George Campbell from Borgue reminded me of an unsolved problem about James Frazer Muir Campbell KOSB on the Kirkcudbright memorial. His full name is from the Stewartry ROH and he is listed on the Kirkcudbright memorial and the St Cuthbert's church memorial in Kirkcudbright.
The book "we will remember them" list him as the only one the author has failed to identify. There is no record of his death in local press and nothing can be found from census records.
I have looked through the 18 James Campbells KOSB in CWGC but cannot identify him, nor by various searches in Ancestry.
This may be a red herring but there is a 9299 James Campbell died 27 April 1915 from Springholm which is 15 miles away and he is NOT listed on the Springholm memorial and does not seem to be listed on the Stewartry ROH so is this the same man?

\Paul

kinnethmont · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 1649 Location: Aberdeenshire

Paul

This man's paybook Will survives. £10 or so would probably solve the mystery.
_________________
Jim

If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

www.kinnethmont.co.uk

lost in tilloy · Joined: 29 Sep 2007 Posts: 111

He is on the Scottish 1901 census as James Frazer Muir Campbell, born 1893, Kirkcudbright. It says living at the E C Manse, Kirkcudbright, son of Rev A D Campbell and Mary Jane Campbell.

A search through the MSRs for a KOSB James Campbell with birth date around 1893 might shorten the field a bit.

As you say the SNWM has a Pte 9299 James Campbell, 1st KOSB, killed at Dardanelles on 27/04/1915, born Springfield, Dalbeatie, Kirkcudbright. CWGC doesn't give many more details of age or family. Worth looking at.

Regards
LIT

Kenneth Morrison · Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 11:03 am Post subject:

As far as Private (9299) James Campbell, 1st KOSB is concerned, he is NOT the "missing man" on Kirkcudbright.
This James was born 25 July 1888 in Springholm in the parish of Urr, just north of Dalbeattie.
He was the son of James Campbell and of Mary Muckelwaine.
In 1901, age 13 and a scholar at Dalbeattie Higher Grade School, he was with his father and mother (still unmarried) and two younger sisters at 304 High Street, Dalbeattie.
Confusingly he is listed on Dalbeattie WM and on the Stewartry RoH as a Sergeant James Campbell KOSB. His entry in the SRoH states that he had served for 10 years in Egypt and India and was "mobilised" on 4 August 1914 so he may have left the army prior to the War.
It goes on to say that he died of wounds received in action on 27 April 1915 (1st KOSB arrived at Cape Helles 2 days earlier) but he is listed on the Helles Memorial.
Maybe Stuart can add some information on both these Campbells????
_________________
Ken

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Re James Frazer Muir Campbell

This is one of these mistakes that we sometimes find on memorials - he shouldn't be listed because he wasn't a casualty. He was a Medical Officer (Surgeon Captain) with the Royal Navy from July 1915. He survived the war and died in Bristol on 25 October 1958.

The closest there was to a casualty in this family was his brother, 2nd Lieut William Alexander Campbell, A&SH who was badly wounded in November 1916. James Fraser Muir visited him in hospital in France when they weren't sure if William was going to pull through or not. At that time JFM was on his way to take up an appointment aboard HMS _____ (don't know). William did recover.

Hope this helps,

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book

Stewartry · Joined: 19 Dec 2006 Posts: 274 Location: nr Nottingham

Re James Campbell, Dalbeattie War Memorial

9299 1st KOSB is the man I have on my updated Stewartry RoH - mainly based on the Springholm connection. His service number indicates an enlistment autumn 1905, so roughly fits with the stated 10 years previous service. He is mentioned twice in the KA, firstly a report of his death sent to Mrs Laidlaw, Copland Street with whom he occasionally stayed (both his parents were dead) and secondly as one of two old pupils of Dalbeattie School who had died in service at this early (June 1915) stage of the war - the school had just hung its new RoH on the hall wall.

Stuart
_________________
www.sonsofgalloway.org.uk
5th KOSB
Stewartry RoH
ATC Auchencairn book